ANIMAL rights campaigners in Limerick are up in arms over a visit to the city by Courtney Brothers Circus, who they claim keep tigers in cramped, filthy and tiny cages.
Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) is planning a protest at the Castletroy Shopping Centre this Saturday at 3pm, to disrupt Courtney Brothers Circus’s current run at the site. According to ARAN spokesman John Carmody, the protest was sparked after the release of amateur footage showing the living conditions of the tigers.
“The footage clearly shows the tigers living in the cramped, filthy and tiny cages pacing around in circles or sleeping on what appears to be sawdust, a piece of wood and a rubber tyre,” Mr Carmody claimed.
“The footage also shows the animals being hit as they’re brought back to their cages after a performance. There’s nothing whatsoever that helps the mental and physical well-being of the animals,” the Limerick animal rights campaigner added.
ARAN welcomed the Arts Council decision to cut funding to Irish circuses after it called on the Council to increase funding to non-animal acts. The group have now written to the Department of Agriculture urging the confiscation of the animals in Courtney Brothers Circus, which is currently running in Limerick.
ARAN is also asking newly elected councillors to pass a motion to ban animal-act circuses in Limerick. Councils in Waterford, Monaghan, Wicklow Town, Arklow, Drogheda, Clonakilty and South Dublin have all successfully passed motions to ban any circus using animals on public land.
The group maintains that the suffering endured by animals in circuses is well documented and scientifically established. They claim that due to constant travelling, circuses cannot provide animals with adequate facilities to keep them physically or psychologically healthy.
“Previous footage taken in Waterford earlier this year shows the animals stereotypical behaviour of pacing around in circles in the very same confined space with the same beer keg and rubber tire.
“If this is not a wake up call for the people of Ireland to stay clear of animals in circuses then what is?”, Mr Carmody asks.
In response, Jim Courtney of Courtney Brothers Circus commented, “We’re an open book. We’ve put thousands of posters up and we’re right here in the middle of a car park. Why don’t you come along and see the animals first-hand for yourself. We’ve nothing to hide.”
