Should elephants be back into the Big Top? Vote now

Elephants are expected to perform in a circus tonight for the first time in ten years in the United Kingdom after three females were imported from Germany.

Animal rights campaigners were infuriated by the decision to introduce them to the Great British Circus and called for the use of elephants in circuses to be banned.

The last time an elephant performed in a circus in Britain was in 1999 when an animal called Anne went through a routine of tricks at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus.

Times Archive, 1913: Circus elephants at the London Opera House

Mlle Reesey's elephants sang, skipped and performed the Tango

Related Links

• Big cat fanatics claw at Tippi

• Monkeys have morality, say scientists

• Climate change puts penguins in peril

Multimedia

• Should elephants be back in the Big Top? Vote now

Martin Lacey, of the Great British Circus, said the three new elephants would be an educational as well as entertaining experience for members of the audience.

One of the animals, Sonja, is an African elephant said to have been sold by a game park after her mother was culled. The other two are Asian elephants called Delhi and Vana Mana.

Mr Lacey maintained the three elephants are “great ambassadors for the species, entertaining and educating the public within the care and security of the circus to protect them.”

Animal welfare campaigners were, however, appalled at the return of elephants to the ring and accused the government of letting slip a golden opportunity to ban wild animals performing in circuses.

Will Travers, of the Born Free Foundation which has campaigned for years against the use of animals in circuses, said the failure by ministers to act had allowed fresh animals to be imported by circuses.

He said: “It’s not the life that elephants were designed to lead, nor the life we should be imposing on them. They aren’t there for conservation.”

Evidence presented to a government inquiry in 2006 showed that there were 41 wild animals used by circuses. They included tigers, lions, a bear and an elephant.

Mr Travers fears that now circuses have tested the Government’s will by importing three elephants they will bring in many more wild animals.

Times recommends

• Energy-saving ideas from switched-on professor
• Rooks are as clever with tools as chimpanzees
• Burping of the lambs blows roast off menu