Circus Mondao responds to animal rights activists and says: "We are not doing anything illegal"

Ian Tarplee and Karina Saunders, from Pinchbeck, are opposing the use of any animal in a circus and campaigned outside the Circus Mondao on Saturday.

The circus is currently sited at the Swineshead roundabout on the A17/A52 at Bicker Bar until Sunday (February 23).

"We do not want animals in the circus," Ian told us.

"There are several human-based circuses that come into town and we really do not think they need animals in the circus in the 21st century."

The couple are also concerned over how animals are cared for and trained in circuses.

Recently, the government brought in a new law under the Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019, that prohibits the exhibition of wild animals or use of them in a performance as part of a travelling circus in England.

This is something the RSPCA also campaigned towards.

Circus Mondao, based in Boston, owns some animals classed as wild including a zebra, camels and reindeer but assures they are not now used in their circus.

I visited the circus on Tuesday morning while staff were tending to their animals.

Although I had attempted to contact the circus previously, they did not know I was coming on Tuesday and the animals appeared to be well looked after.

"We are not doing anything illegal here," Petra Jackson, of Circus Mondao, said. "On our Facebook page there are hundreds and hundreds of videos of us looking after our animals.

"We are very proud of our animals and love to show them off and show that they are well looked after. It does seem that all the time we have to prove ourselves and it should not be like that."

While they do not show wild animals in the circus, as a travelling business Petra said: "They are our family and we can't leave them behind."

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