McLaren Circus faces criticism over animal acts in Ballito

NATIONAL NEWS - The return of the McLaren Circus to Ballito last week drew support from audiences and outrage from animal welfare activists.

Almost 1 400 people bought tickets to the two shows in Townsend Park on 11 and 12 August, while a few dozen animal welfare protesters displayed anti-circus signs on Townsend Road on both evenings.

The McLaren Circus is the last circus in South Africa that travels with animals, and lions, tigers, horses, camels, poodles and pythons are all included in their performances.

Protesters argue the environment and regular travel are unnatural for the animals involved.

Circus owner David McLaren said he understood the concerns of welfare groups, but cited strict legislation governing the use of animals and regular checks by the Department of Agriculture and relevant SPCA groups in the towns they visit.

The Durban and Coast SPCA, which visited the circus on 12 August, confirmed no welfare issues were found in terms of the Animals Protection Act.

“We are licensed in each province and have to renew annually,” said McLaren.

“We have almost 50 full-time staff who all love our animals, which are on display year-round. Crowds would be the first to notice if they were mistreated. I’m not in the business of losing money to make a point.”

One animal-focused staff member is big cat trainer Quintin Louw, who moved to Ballito at the age of 10 and followed his childhood dream to work in the circus after watching a performance as a young boy.

“After 10 years of working with the animals, they are like my family. I know their habits and personalities just like I would a human,” said Louw.

McLaren said no starvation or negative reinforcement training methods were used in their circus, and that the ‘wild’ animals were bred in captivity.

Beyond physical conditions, however, welfare groups and mounting scientific research point to mental and behavioural concerns for circus animals.

Four Paws, an international organisation which operates Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in the Free State, said animals they had rescued from circuses in Slovakia, Argentina, France, Romania, Belgium and elsewhere often arrived in poor condition.

“All animals suffer in circuses, but big cats are particularly vulnerable because their instinctual needs are so vast and complex. Scientific studies and reports consistently demonstrate that the confinement, transport and forced performances lead to severe welfare concerns for lions and tigers,” said Four Paws SA director, Fiona Miles.

Big cat trainer Quintin Louw with (from left) tigers Rambo and Tyson and lions King, Princess and Diamond.

“They cannot express their natural behaviours in small travelling enclosures and the constant disruption causes chronic stress. Research referenced by Four Paws shows that this suffering is inherent and unavoidable when wild animals are used in circuses.”

Four Paws has never rescued an animal directly from the McLaren Circus and the big cats that retire from active performance are housed at the Midvaal Lion Park – also owned by McLaren.

In rebuttal, Circus spokesperson Karl Hildebrandt cited German research which concluded that the decisive factor in animal welfare in circuses was the quality of management and husbandry as opposed to the inherent circus context.

Going forward, Miles said Four Paws would continue to lobby in South Africa and internationally for the use of animals in circuses to end. She said they had found some previous success in Europe.

“Animal welfare must come before entertainment,” she said.

Protesters on Townsend Road on 12 August.