Ludlow circus visit raises fresh controversy
A circus that features performances from animals was today opening on a field on the outskirts of Ludlow.
Peter Jolly's circus will be at the Dun Cow Farm site at Rocks Green, on the edge of Ludlow, until Sunday.
The circus has been at the centre of controversy previously with animal rights campaigners, but the circus says the animals and the conditions they are kept in are regularly inspected and up to standard. No-one at Peter Jolly's Circus was available for comment yesterday but on a previous visit the circus said in statement: "We have held our licence to travel with performing wild animals for four consecutive years and during this time we have had three inspections by Defra, two announced and one unannounced.
"We also have to have four inspections per year by independent vets making a total of seven inspections per year.
All our inspection reports are available online at the Defra website for anyone to read."
Animal Defenders International has called for the people of Ludlow to boycott the circus, which has two shows a day until Saturday and one on Sunday.
Jan Creamer, president of the group, said: "Circuses simply cannot meet the needs of wild animals in small, mobile accommodation. The government has promised a ban, but we're asking people to vote with their feet – don't go."
