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North-east’s big cats barred from performing in England

One of Chipperfield's lions
One of Chipperfield's lions

Big cats that spent the winter in the north-east have been barred from performing in England.

Lion tamer Thomas Chipperfield, who spent Christmas near St Combs with a pack of lions and tigers, had planned to return to England in the summer with his show ‘An Evening with Lions and Tigers’ but an inspection found the animals’ living conditions inadequate.

It has since set up in Wales, where licenses are not required to perform.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) is now pressing the UK Government to take “urgent action” to ban all animal circuses.

The north-east lions have been barred from performing in England
The north-east lions have been barred from performing in England
The north-east lions have been barred from performing in England
The north-east lions have been barred from performing in England

ADI president Jan Creamer said: “The evidence shows circuses are unable to provide the environment required to satisfy the complex needs of wild animals.

“The Government must now fulfil its long-standing promise to ban these archaic acts or be held responsible for continued animal suffering.”

ADI has previously voiced opposition to the way in which Mr Chipperfield’s cats are confined.

Wildlife vet Simon Adams also raised concern at the animals’ environment, stating that the ability to be able to patrol their huge natural territories was “an essential behavioural drive” and that “the limited space available in a travelling circus is unsuitable to big cats”.

A Welsh government spokesman said that Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans has “made it clear that she wishes to move to a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses”.

“We are pressing the UK government to deliver on the promise to legislate as soon as possible,” he added.

A 2013 YouGov poll found, with regard to the use of lions and tigers, 78% and 79% believed these animals should not be used in circuses.

 

Animal rights groups claim victory

Animal rights campaigners have claimed victory over a circus entertainer who kept his big cats in the north-east over winter.

There was a furious backlash earlier this year when lion tamer, Thomas Chipperfield, set up camp with his lions and tigers at St Combs near Fraserburgh.

Despite repeated calls for the show to be banned and his licence to keep the animals revoked, he continued to advertise his circus show to locals.

Now, Animal Defenders International (ADI) has spoken out after it emerged Mr Chipperfield’s touring show will not go ahead in England following protests and petitions.

A spokeswoman for the group said an inspection of the big cats’ living conditions found them to be “woefully inadequate”.

ADI president Jan Creamer said: “We are appalled that these animals are being forced to endure such severely confined conditions.

“The evidence shows circuses are unable to provide the environment required to satisfy the complex needs of wild animals.”

A spokesman for Mr Chipperfield disputed ADI’s claims that the company had been dogged by protests – and insisted the show’s licence had not been revoked.

Anthony Beckwith said: “This is very misleading. We’re not banned from England. This year we planned to do one show and one show only in England, that was at the Hereford County Fair.

“The documents show that our application for a licence was withdrawn by us, nothing was refused.

“Inspectors wanted more of our enclosure to be indoors – currently the outdoor enclosure is more than double the required standard – but they wanted more indoors.”

The Thomas Chipperfield show is currently touring Wales – where licenses are not required – and Mr Beckwith said the company is committed to a full programme of shows.

A 2013 YouGov poll found that around 79% of people surveyed believed lions and tigers should not be used in circus acts.