| | JUMBO HEADS TO CAPITAL
Loritz Circus is making its way down the North Island and we are calling on supporters to join in with demonstrations, assist with the distribution of anti-circus posters and write letters to the local newspapers. Loritz Circus is due in the Wellington region later this month and will be in Porirua from 26 September. If you're in the Wellington area, specifically Porirua, Paraparaumu and Upper Hutt, and are concerned about Jumbo's plight, then contact SAFE and consider joining in the campaign. The circus has met with protests in every centre Jumbo has been made to perform at and SAFE is confident the ongoing pressure will be influential in hastening her retirement.Contact Sacha at sacha@safe.org.nz for more information.
CIRCUS REMAINS PRESSURED
Demonstrations against the Loritz Circus in Auckland have drawn to a close following a campaign that involved letter writing, poster distribution and local SAFE campaigners holding protests outside the circus in Mangere and Manurewa. SAFE campaign officer Eliot Pryor says after observing the circus from some time SAFE has proof that Jumbo, the solitary circus elephant, remains confined in her trailer for prolonged periods, swaying from left to right. This behaviour is typically linked to psychological distress. "Her five-minute routine in the arena appears dull and sombre. The circus had all the other elements of a great family show and could easily stand alone without the elephant," says Eliot. 
JUMBO's Loritz Circus is in South Auckland
The Loritz Circus is being met by SAFE volunteers wherever they go around the north island, and we know it is having an effect. The 20-strong Auckland SAFE team made a lasting impression demonstrating outside the circus in the rain last weekend. The circus has New Zealand's last circus elephant, Jumbo. SAFE seeks helpers to join in with demonstrations and to assist with the distribution of posters and with letter writing. SAFE is extremely concerned about Jumbo's welfare in the circus. "She is kept as a solitary elephant despite elephants being very social animals, living in large groups in the wild. Jumbo is kept in a small trailer, tethered by her foot with a short chain for long periods of the day. Jumbo sways almost constantly - a stereotypic behaviour, which scientific research shows is a sign of psychological distress," says SAFE campaign officer Eliot Pryor.
Postering and letter writing
If you are able to help with postering or writing letters to your local newspaper please email Eliot at: eliot@safe.org.nz "We're especially looking for people with local knowledge of the Manukau area to help," says Eliot.
SAFE has resumed its campaign against circuses with performing animals following news that New Zealand's last remaining wild circus animal is not to be retired. Instead Jumbo, the 35-year-old African elephant who has been the star attraction of the Whirling Brothers Circus for almost her entire life, has been sold to a newly formed New Zealand-based circus. This means Jumbo's sentence of misery and abuse continues. She will remain without the company of her own kind, housed in a trailer that provides barely enough room to move, with little to do apart from eat and sway from side to side. Jumbo has been incarcerated in this way for over three decades. It is time for her suffering to end. Please help SAFE rescue Jumbo from her life of servitude and severe confinement by becoming involved in the campaign to free her.
Twenty years against circus cruelty SAFE has led the campaign against the Whirling Brothers Circus for its use and abuse of animals for many years. Peaceful demonstrations have been a regular feature outside the circus around the country and have reminded circus goers that away from the glitz and glamour of the arena there are animals that are suffering and frustrated. SAFE's twenty year campaign has successfully educated the public about the reality of circus animal suffering. This has resulted in a change of public attitude towards the use of animals for so-called entertainment. During the 1990s New Zealand was home to four touring circuses and hosted many international circuses that brought with them a menagerie of animals. However in 1992 SAFE launched a massive nationwide campaign against the Great International Moscow Circus which had a collection of performing animals including bears on skates. The campaign attracted widespread media attention that resulted in huge losses of ticket sales. The promoters issued lawsuits on anti-circus organisers in an attempt to recover costs with little success. Since then, no international circus with animals has visited New Zealand. In 1999 SAFE successful freed and rescued two chimpanzee brothers, Buddy and Sonny, who were part of Circus Magic, a New Zealand-based circus. While it took years of battling with the circus owner SAFE finally managed to successfully release both chimps and send them to the world's largest primate sanctuary in Africa. Both chimps now live a life as free and natural as possible. The circus owner agreed to never use exotic animals again. Today, New Zealand is home to only one touring circus with performing animals, including the last remaining exotic animal - Jumbo. Jumbo's plight For years Jumbo's life-long handler and owner of Whirling Brothers Circus, Tony Ratcliffe, stated publicly that Jumbo would be retired to a sanctuary or zoo once the circus closed down. When the circus started retiring some of its animals in 2007 Ratcliffe admitted that Jumbo "Would be better off with other elephants" and expressed sadness at the thought of saying goodbye to her. SAFE thought it was finally all over - Jumbo would at last be with her own kind and have space to roam at a sanctuary or zoo. Instead, Jumbo was sold to Loritz Circus and Ratcliffe now works for the circus managing Jumbo. For over three decades Jumbo has been kept in solitary confinement, denied the company of other elephants. Elephants are extremely gregarious, forming strong social bonds. Scientific research shows that elephants deprived of the company of other elephants suffer from stress and boredom. Jumbo is deprived of sufficient space and stimulation. Elephants in the wild roam vast distances spending much of their days feeding, bathing, grooming and engaging in social activities. Jumbo is restricted to a trailer or small fenced area. 
Loritz Circus - a "sad" circus The Loritz Circus keeps Jumbo along with miniature ponies, donkeys, a llama and a goat. Their ‘Out of Africa' theme depicts Kenyan performers as natives, and while some of their human circus acts are skilful, their animal acts only serve to demonstrate the way humans dominate and use other animals. The Loritz Circus performance lasts a little over one hour. SAFE investigators attending the performance noted the circus appeared more "sad" than glamorous. They observed ponies running around the arena urged on by a whip-welding handler. Jumbo's 5-minute routine consists of her walking around, hopping across the arena and climbing up onto a step under the direction of Ratciffe who was observed using a stick. SAFE's campaign officer Sacha Dowell says while the video footage of the performance appears harmless enough closer scrutiny raises serious concerns.   "If you look closely at the footage, the ‘stick' in Ratcliffe's hand has a sharp metal hook on the end which is called a bullhook. If Jumbo miscues what she is suppose to do during the act, it's a prod in the side with the hook," says Sacha. "What does this teach children and adults alike about the way we should be treating animals?"
"Thanks to our investigators, we have documented that Jumbo remains confined in her trailer for prolonged periods and constantly sways left and right. This stereotypic behaviour is a typical sign associated with psychological distress. Jumbo is also tethered by her foot to a short metal chain while in the trailer which must be extremely frustrating for her," says Sacha.  SAFE understands Loritz Circus has invested $300,000 building a new trailer for Jumbo however the actual ‘liveable' space Jumbo has is estimated to be 3 by 5 metres. The rest of the trailer appears to be used for storage for supplies. SAFE has serious doubts about the fate of Jumbo if left in her present condition.
"For over three decades, Jumbo has suffered day in and day out simply to ‘entertain' circus goers for a few minutes during each performance. We have no right to force this majestic animal to be degraded and abused. We must end Jumbo's suffering by freeing her from the Loritz Circus and sending her to a sanctuary," Says Sacha. | | LATEST NEWS
Porirua Circus protests
On Saturday 4th and 11th October, SAFE will hold protests outside the circus at Takapuwhia Reserve on Titahi Bay Rd. If you are keen to get involved, please meet at 1pm at the bus stop close to the park. Email Elissa.
If you cannot attend the protests but wish to help with the campaign to free Jumbo, email sacha@safe.org.nz
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1) Don't attend Loritz Circus performances and urge your family and friends to do the same. Let SAFE know if Loritz Circus is in your town. 2) Support the campaign by making a donation. 3) Watch recent footage of Jumbo at Loritz Circus and pass the link on to family and friends. 4) Organise a leafleting session or protest outside the Loritz Circus. Order a campaign pack from SAFE containing leaflets and posters to use in your protest. Email sacha@safe.org.nz to order your pack now. 5) Write a letter to the editor voicing your opposition to the use of animals in circuses (see sample below). DOWNLOAD LEAFLET 
Download SAFE's leaflet against circuses so you can copy and hand to your friends. DOWNLOAD POSTER
 Download SAFE's poster against circuses so you can copy and put up somewhere for the world to see!
VIEW SAFE's MEDIA RELEASE
 WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR PAPER! [Sample letter] Dear Editor
I am appalled that in this day and age there is still a New Zealand circus with a wild animal - a solo African elephant. This elephant, Jumbo, is alone despite wild elephants living in large matriarchal groups. She is housed in a small trailer with barely enough room to move, and is regularly tethered by her foot to a short chain. She is almost always swaying from side to side. Swaying is a stereotypic behaviour which is a sign of psychological distress. It is disturbing that elephants are still being kept captive for entertainment, instead of allowing them the company of other elephants and the space they need. Jumbo deserves to be retired to a sanctuary with other elephants in a more natural setting. I urge all New Zealanders to not attend circuses with animals as giving them money will only ensure their future suffering.
Yours, |
