From Mr A. Spiteri MSc, PhD cand.

Circus animals all over the world are routinely shackled in chains, drowned, electrocuted (with electric prods), beaten and whipped. Bears with broken noses and burnt feet, battered chimpanzees, tigers beaten with whips; what do these have in common? It is the real life horror of animals living lives of abuse and torture in circuses across Europe. These atrocities are completely unacceptable and have to be stopped! To further add insult to injury (literally in this case), we allow them to come to our country and patronise the “business”.

The deplorable life of a circus animal means being chained all day, travelling all year in either freezing cold or unbearable heat in unventilated trains and trucks. Many animals have died in hot trucks. Tigers have broken off teeth trying to escape the heat of their cages and are confined to 4 x 5 cages most of their lives, just big enough to turn around in. Chimpanzees and bears are kept in filthy, tiny cages. There is not adequate clean drinking water at the stops and they have to endure constant abuse and beatings

In the 1980s I witnessed first hand the illegal sale of monkeys, tigers, lions, crocodiles and a multitude of other animals by the visiting circus “Miranda Orfei”. Many of these animals went to live in private homes, farms and other unsuitable living arrangements all over Malta. I also followed some of these unfortunate animals and was present at the death of many of them up until 1998. Can we declare with confidence that these practices are no longer taking place?

It is difficult to understand why a “free” nation still allows the slavery of “Endangered Species”. Why is it acceptable to exploit tigers, camels, crocodiles, giant snakes, ponies and giraffes? There are only a few tigers and chimpanzees left in the wild, so why do we allow abuse and cruelty to happen to the few in our country? There is no denying and no excuse for circus animal abuse. We must tighten up the law and reject circuses that exploit animals!

We respectfully beseech the public to urge the government to initiate and support a bill to “prohibit the use of exotic and native animals in circuses and travelling shows on display for profit, giving rides, work or performing”. Please do this to stop the suffering. We must speak for the animals because they have no voice!

Antoine Spiteri

(Concerned citizen and taxpayer)