Community members and activists protested outside the McLaren Circus in Zandvlei on Saturday 26 March, voicing their disapproval of wild animals used for entertainment and profit.
Organiser Toni Brockhoven from the animal rights organisation Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) says they have demonstrated and fought for animal-free circuses since 2009.
“An animal born in captivity does not make that animal domestic, it makes them born in captivity. Those are still wild animals,” she says.
“We also know how difficult it is to train the domestic cat; these are 245kg or 275kg apex predators. There must be some kind of unpleasant coercion. We don’t know their training methods. It is not how they are trained, it is that they are trained at all. That is the issue. We love the circus, we have no issue with the circus, we have no issue with the people, we will support them when they have no animals.”
She questions whether the circus has a valid permit.
“There is a new bylaw in Cape Town. Section 12 says that the SPCA has to be consulted for input before any permit is issued and that has not been done.”
Resident Derek Watling says animals should be treated like nature intended.
“Animals shouldn’t be kept in captivity for profit. I am vegan and I don’t eat animals or anything that comes from animals and this is just an extension of that. Wild animals should not be used for entertainment.
“Circus animals that are still there should be put into sanctuaries and definitely no new animals brought in.”
Protestor Suzy Roelofsz says it is appalling to still have to protest for the freedom of animals.
“How dare these people come to our community with their unethical nonsense.”
Vanessa Cunningham says it is not natural behaviour for wild animals to perform in a circus.
“It’s hard enough getting your own cat to eat in the right place, imagine trying to do that to a wild cat. I would love to support a circus with people doing acts. They are there voluntarily and it’s really awesome but we cannot support the use of wild animals specifically.”
Muizenberg resident Chad Cupido says it is fundamentally wrong to use wild animals for human entertainment.
“We are here to show support for those who don’t have a voice, for the animals. They are not kept in a natural condition and you can see if you look at the animals that it is not where they are supposed to be.
“It’s not about a philosophy, it’s just about being a human being and observing. And in that observation it’s never going to be okay.
“We don’t support the McLaren Circus being here. We don’t mind if there are acrobats and if there are any human acts but as soon as you bring a wild animal in for human entertainment against its will, that fundamentally is wrong.”
McLaren Circus spokesperson Karl Hildebrandt questions BWC’s “sudden concern” for the circus’s animals.
“Their lack of interest in our animals during hard lockdown was the perfect indication that they have no actual concern about any of our animals. It’s only now, that we have returned to Cape Town, that they have an interest in pushing their agenda.”
He adds that protestors also seem to have selective empathy when it comes to their concerns regarding animals.
“They have time to protest the circus, but there are dogs and cats dying of starvation a few kilometres down the road in the nearest township that could actually do with the effort they are attempting to go through for the circus animals.”
Hildebrandt adds that the vast majority of residents from Muizenberg and the surrounding areas are excited that the circus is around.
“We’ve received five, back-to-back sold-out shows from our opening show on Friday. We’ve even had to add a 17:15 show last evening due to the demand.”
He adds that BWC needs to take its concerns regarding permitting up with the City and Law Enforcement.
“We have all the necessary permits to operate and this was confirmed after an inspection conducted by two City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officers, at around 15:40 on Saturday 26 March.”
