High Wycombe animal circus declared success (From Bucks Free Press)
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High Wycombe animal circus declared success
2:17pm Monday 1st June 2009 in News By Andy Carswell
THE first circus featuring live animals to perform in High Wycombe for 20 years has been hailed a great success.
Zippo's Circus has been in town on the Rye since Thursday and has sold out several of its shows.
It was the first time a circus featuring animals has been to the town since Wycombe District Council overturned a 17-year-old ban.
Councillors were split when voting on whether to overturn the ban in February.
Posters advertising Zippo's circus were vandalised in the build-up to the arrival of horses, ponies and budgerigars as part of the act.
But the animals were well received by people who came to see the Sunday afternoon performance.
Jan Grizyb from Tylers Green attended along with son Oliver.
He said: “It was excellent, we'll come next year. It's great to see the circus still alive and it was good to see some live animals as well.”
Merita Lumley from Amersham said: “We thought it was really good.
“I felt a bit nervous about the animals being around and how they have been treated, but I didn't feel uncomfortable.”
Her nine-year-old daughter Megan, who came with twin sister Donjeta, said: “It was brilliant.”
Lee Dearman from West Wycombe said: “It was absolutely fantastic, we'll definitely come next year.
“I liked the horses. They seemed to be so well cared for.”
The ovation for the performing animals was only topped by the show's final act – the 'Wheel of Death'.
This involved two Colombian entertainers performing a series of hair-raising stunts on a revolving wheel, with one of the acrobats going round blindfolded.
Martin Burton, the owner of Zippo's Circus, told the Bucks Free Press: “I have to say we've really been made welcome back in Wycombe.
“We've been very busy. The Mayor came on the opening night, we were sold out on Friday and we were sold out on Saturday.
“People are really enjoying the show.”
Health and safety and food safety inspections were carried out by Wycombe District Council before the start of the show.
A statement from the council said: “Matters were identified and brought to the attention of the circus's on-site health and safety advisor.
“These matters were dealt with informally, as action to address them was agreed and implemented promptly and will full, on-site co-operation.”
Shows will take place tonight at 5pm and 7.30pm and tomorrow at 6pm.
Have you been to see the performing animals? What did you think? Have your say below.
Comments(6)
Save Wycombe
says...
5:01pm Mon 1 Jun 09
Security word: come-shut
Thinking of the pool during the heatwave perhaps?
SDJones
says...
10:29pm Mon 1 Jun 09
how the heck would you know that?? ban all live animal circuses, those budgies look like death warmed up
paul_thomas
says...
9:29am Tue 2 Jun 09
Animals don’t belong in a circus. The constant transportation from town to town for ten months each year and confinement for long periods means that a travelling circus can never meet all of the needs of these animals, whether elephants, lions, tigers or horses.
Claims by circuses that animals are stimulated by performances are false. In fact, the same tricks are generally repeated for years.
Animals are trained away from the scrutiny of the public, politicians or welfare groups. Undercover investigations at circuses in the UK have revealed animals beaten with sticks, bars and whips and sick animals hidden from the RSPCA.
There is no educational value in seeing these once proud animals reduced to performing tricks in an unnatural environment. Circuses teach a lack of respect for animals.
CAPS is not opposed to circuses, only to the use of animals, and we encourage people to avoid animal circuses and instead visit one of the many excellent shows that rely entirely on human skills.
We also ask people to write to their MP, asking them to encourage the government to ban the use of animals in circuses.
Circuses YES, Animals NO.
Paul Thomas
Campaigns assistant
The Captive Animals' Protection Society
PO Box 4186
Manchester
M60 3ZA
www.captiveanimals.o
rg
Registered charity in England and Wales. Number 1124436
Adrian Corti
says...
10:48am Tue 2 Jun 09
Jam20
says...
3:46pm Tue 2 Jun 09
I attended the circus with 3 small children - all of which were horrified when the horse trainer whipped the legs of a beautiful horse who would not lie down. I felt very uncomfortable seeing the frowns on the childrens faces.
The rest of the circus was great, the comedy acts, the wheels or death and all the stunts. The biggest let down was the horses, this part of the circus really wasnt very impressive and could have been left out.
Saying this I do think the horses looked in good health and were well groomed - it was just sad to see them performing. Horses should not be used for entertainment purposes.
You ain't seen me says...
4:32pm Mon 1 Jun 09