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Circus faces call for town boycott
Animal rights campaigners have called on families to snub a circus featuring exotic performing animals when it visits the Dales.
Circus Mondao, one of only three British circuses with non-domesticated animals, will be at Bakewell Showground from April 23-27.
But the Captive Animals' Protection Society is calling for people to boycott the show – saying that travelling circuses are unsuitable environments for animals, and the practice should be banned.
Campaigns assistant Paul Thomas said: "Why do people want to see zebras in the centre of Bakewell? What can people get from watching them parade and being humiliated? We just don't see the point."
The need to travel every week for up to ten months a year meant circuses could never meet animals' needs, said Mr Thomas.
But ringmistress Petra Jackson said all her animals were well looked-after and enjoyed performing, otherwise inspectors would shut Circus Mondao down.
The show will include performing horses, zebras, camels, llamas, ponies, dogs and pygmy goats.
She described the zebras as "just stripy donkeys", and said they had the same welfare needs as horses.
Ms Jackson said: "It's okay for dogs to perform to music at Crufts, but not when we do it. It infuriates me.
"We've nothing to hide – we're just a traditional family circus – yet these animal rights people hamper us every week.
"The British public can sometimes be a bit gullible and believe their lies," she added.
Ms Jackson invited anyone with worries to speak with her and view the animals.
Mr Thomas said it was likely protesters would hold a picket outside the circus. He said the Captive Animals' Protection Society was not opposed to circuses, only the use of animals.
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Weather for Bakewell
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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