It's legal for a circus to beat an elephant with an iron bar
Between 1996 to 1998, investigators from the organisation Animal Defenders worked undercover in UK animal circuses. They secretly filmed animals being prodded and hit with all manner of weapons. The investigation culminated in convictions for cruelty of Mary Cawley, her husband Roger Cawley and their elephant keeper Stephen Gills.
Gills was jailed for four months because of his sustained attacks on the elephants. Using iron bars and pitchforks he would sometimes rain down as many as 30 frenzied blows on the faces of the chained animals. Mary Cawley was convicted on twelve counts of cruelty to an infant chimpanzee called Trudy who she kicked and thrashed with a riding crop. Roger Cawley was convicted of one count of cruelty to a sick elephant called Flora. Cawley claimed he was exercising her because she was sick, but whipped her to make her go faster and faster. The Cawleys were fined but not banned from keeping animals.
But what was equally significant was what they weren't convicted of. This defines the level of brutality permitted in animal circuses.
Mary Cawley was charged with cruelty to a camel. To make her move to the training ring, the camel was hit with reins, kicked, had her tail twisted, and repeatedly hit with a broom handle. In the ring camels were struck about the body and even the face. Cawley was found not guilty of cruelty on the grounds that making the animal perform tricks is legal, therefore it is legal to use the force necessary to meet this goal. The magistrate noted, "The camels were being trained in the ring. It's not for us to judge if that's right - it is legal".
Likewise, the day before the whipping he was convicted of, Roger Cawley moved the sick elephant Flora to the training ring. Animal Defenders' film shows that Flora, who had collapsed the previous day and had boils about her body was unwilling and stopped. Gills pulled her and Charles Chipperfield hit her across the back with a fibre glass rod. Then Cawley joined in using a metal bar. Holding this in both hands, he brought it behind his head to hit Flora's back hard several times. Flora's legs buckled a little under the multiple blows, then she moved on. Again, this was not deemed cruelty because they were trying to force her to do something.
All-human circuses are on the increase
The future
Around the world, more circuses have now abandoned animal acts and have shows consisting entirely of human performers - acrobats, clowns, jugglers etc. All the fun, without the cruelty.
CAPS encourages the public to only support these animal-free circuses.
It seems hard to believe that animal circuses are still touring Ireland today.