This factsheet is based on information contained in the CAPS report about animal circuses in Ireland.
Where the animals come from
Lorry used to transport elephants from Germany
While many of the animals used in Irish circuses remain with those circuses for a long time, there are question marks over the origins of some animals. For example, during CAPS’ investigations in 2006, we discovered species that we are not aware of having been used in circuses in Ireland previously, including wallabies and an ostrich. On our first two visits to Circus Sydney, the show had just one wallaby, but just three weeks later on another visit we discovered three wallabies had been added to the performance.
Animals are regularly moved around between circuses, even during the course of the touring season, which can make it difficult to keep track of how many animals there are, what species and where they are at any given time.
In July 2005 four people claimed to have been bitten by a macaque monkey at Circus New York.
The origins of this monkey are unknown and at the time press reports claimed the animal had been imported illegally. When asked by CAPS, who wanted to see if this was correct or not, the Department of Agriculture said that the circus owner had told it that the monkey was born in Ireland. However, a local Garda Inspector told CAPS that he had been informed by the circus that the monkey was imported from Germany and, since the attacks, had left the circus with his German owner.
Despite CAPS’ efforts to track the monkey down and establish his origins, there were no further reports until May 2006, when he was discovered in a small cage in the back of a van, belonging to a different small travelling show, which had been left in a mechanics yard for five days. The animal, in a distressed and dehydrated state, was rescued by the ISPCA. A prosecution for animal cruelty against the person thought to be the owner of the animal is pending.
Inquiries by CAPS established that there is a major trade in animals from across Europe to circuses in Ireland. According to Mary Coughlan, Minister for Agriculture and Food, in response to a Parliamentary Question initiated by CAPS, the following animals were imported into Ireland by circuses in 2004 and 2005:
| Year 2004 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Species | Number | Origin |
| Elephant | 5 | France |
| Elephant | 3 | Germany |
| Camel | 1 | Germany |
| Year 2005 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Species | Number | Origin |
| Elephant | 7 | Germany |
| Elephant | 3 | France |
| Elephant | 2 | Italy |
| Rhinoceros | 1 | Italy |
| Hippopotamus | 1 | Italy |
| Camel | 1 | Germany |
| Llama | 8 | Germany |
| Year 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Species | Number | Origin |
| Elephant | 2 | Germany |
| Elephant | 2 | Italy |
| Rhinoceros | 1 | Italy |
| Hippopotamus | 1 | Italy |
| Year 2007 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Species | Number | Origin |
| Elephant | 9 | Germany |
| Lion | 1 | UK |
There are clear welfare problems in transporting animals over such huge distances and then transporting them around Ireland for many months (the circus season will last for about ten months, partly depending on weather conditions). Circuses in Ireland often move venues twice in a week, so the animals are rarely provided the opportunity to settle into new surroundings and are subjected to confinement and regular transportation.
There is no legislation specifically concerning the private keeping of dangerous wild animals in the Republic of Ireland. The ISPCA claim that this has resulted in a large trade in certain species; although legal, such unregulated trade raises serious animal welfare concerns. It is possible that such unregulated dealing is the source of some animals used in circuses and that circuses offload unwanted animals into the private trade. The animal welfare problems and risks to health and safety of people are massive.
CAPS is extremely concerned about the long journeys animals are subjected to, transported around Europe. CAPS calls for a ban on the use of all animals in circuses in Ireland. In the meantime, we have called for an immediate ban on the importation of animals for use in circuses.
An example of the way in which animals are transported from across Europe to Ireland for use in circuses is detailed in a separate factsheet.