by Alan Jacques
LIMERICK woman Clodagh Byrnes was gagged and chained on the streets of Dublin last weekend in protest over what she claims are the cruel conditions elephants touring Ireland with the controversial Circus Belly Wien are living in.
Banned in its native Holland, the circus has attracted huge opposition since it arrived in Ireland last month with 65 animals. It has met with protests in towns all over the country in recent weeks.
Limerick-based animal rights group ARAN (Animal Rights Action Network) fear the circus will now schedule a visit to the Mid-West region and claims that their elephants are “bewildered and broken”.
Last Sunday, longtime animal rights advocate Clodagh Byrnes travelled to Dublin with dozens of supporters to call for the government to introduce legislation preventing animal-act circuses using public land.
She had her mouth gagged and body chained to relate to the elephants that are kept in chains in the travelling circus. She also appealed for Limerick City and County Council to join with an increasing number of local authorities around the country that have passed motions to ban animal-act circuses.
“I am happy to be chained and gagged, voiceless and with no movement, similar to that of elephants in the circus right now,” she told the Limerick Post.
“I appeal to progressive and compassionate Limerick councillors to please re-introduce a motion to ensure any circus coming into our city this year are refused public land in protest at the treatment of these poor animals who must endure confinement and limited spaces in order to entertain people. Nature never intended for those intelligent animals to live such a pitiful existence,” she explained.
ARAN founder John Carmody claimed that, even with the very best intentions in the world, a travelling circus is unable to adequately provide for the animals in their care.
“Elephants and other wild animals used for entertainment are denied everything that is natural and important to them. While chained and unable to flee, elephants are often hit with a bullhook – a long, heavy rod resembling a fireplace poker with a steel-tipped hook on one end”.
“Trainers use bullhooks to jab elephants in the most sensitive parts of their bodies, often causing puncture wounds and abscesses. The constant threat of punishment keeps elephants intimidated and submissive. This Victorian-style menagerie must not go on,” he said.
