Protest over animals at circus
ANIMAL rights campaigners have claimed a victory after a protest outside a circus in Lynn drew a wave of support.
Members of the West Norfolk Animal Rights group gathered near the Knights Hill roundabout before marching to a nearby private field waving anti animal cruelty banners on Wednesday afternoon.
Slogans included Big Top Cruelty, Performing Animals Suffer and Have a Heart for Animals were displayed outside the entrance to the Circus Mondao, which has zebras, horses and goats in its show.
Group coordinator Peter Richards said the band of protestors had made their point and were delighted that business at the circus had been quite slow.
The full-time student (43), said: "It went very well. We actually got great support from people passing in cars, beeping and waving.
"The turnout at the circus was relatively low, there were only 30 or 40 cars in the car park, and this was on a day which they hoped would be their busiest, with 5 tickets."
The father-of-two, from Goodwins Road, Lynn, revealed the protest had passed off peacefully and they had not been bothered by circus staff.
He said: "We didn't have any problems. There were enough of us, and the passing cars were so supportive that we felt quite secure."
He added: "The people of Lynn have given this circus the thumbs down which is excellent news. There is another circus coming to Lynn at the end of the month, a non-animal one.
"We are hoping to organise some discounted tickets which we will distribute to the public. It is good to promote non-animal circuses.
"Every person who goes to a non-animal circus ahead of one with animals is a victory."
Animal circuses have been banned from West Norfolk Council land but a council spokesman explained: "We have no power to stop animal circuses if they are on private property."
They added: "We would urge anyone with any specific complaints about an animal circus to contact the RSPCA."
Mr Richards said he would be keeping an eye on visitor numbers at the Circus Mondao and was considering another protest this evening before the circus leaves town after its final show on Sunday.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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