Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Anne is currently kept by Bobby Roberts Super Circus. She is an Asian elephant, and is kept without companions of her own species. She is thought to be at least 53 years old, and may be the oldest elephant in the UK.

Previously, Born Free monitoring of Anne the elephant revealed that during the circus season she is transported between circus performance sites in an enclosed lorry, sometimes over considerable distances. At the site, she is sometimes allowed access to a small outdoor paddock, enclosed by an electric wire. At other times, evidence suggests that she is either restrained or confined inside a small electric-fenced paddock, inside a tent. She has also been used in filming work, requiring additional transport around the country.

New evidence (May 2008) confirms that Anne is still touring the country under similar conditions with Bobby Roberts Super Circus.

The Born Free Foundation believes that the use of elephants and other wild animals in circuses is unacceptable. Research confirms that elephants as a species do not fare well in captivity and often individually suffer physical and psychological disorders as a result of confinement. It has been confirmed that Anne suffers from arthritis and, according to a report, she finds it difficult to stand for long hours in her trailer.

Helen Worth, Born Free Patron and elephant-lover who has seen video footage of Anne at Bobby Roberts Super Circus, said, “I’m desperately worried about Anne the elephant. She’s living on her own, with no companions of her own kind. It breaks my heart to think of her in such conditions.”

As recently as 2000, Bobby Roberts Super Circus kept 3 Asian elephants, which used to perform to entertain the public. Janie and Beverley, Anne’s former companions, have since died. Although Anne no longer performs tricks, she travels with the circus and has recently been used during the circus interval as a photographic prop for £4 a photo.

Leading elephant conservationists from the Elephant Trust condemn the use of elephants in circuses, stating that “no captive situation can provide elephants with the space they need for movement or with the kind of social stimulation and complexity that they would experience in the wild.” Elephants are highly complex, intelligent and social animals and in the wild roam over large distances each day.  

The Born Free Foundation wants to see an end to the keeping of wild animals in circuses. Animals such as Anne should not have to endure extensive travel, prolonged restraint and enforced close confinement as well as the stresses of the circus environment. Unfortunately it seems unlikely that she can return to her native Sri Lanka, but we are calling for all options for her retirement to be explored to achieve a more appropriate lifestyle that will better meet her physical and psychological needs.

Born Free is asking Mr. Roberts to take heed of the new Animal Welfare Act, and is repeating its call to end Anne’s touring days and to retire her to more suitable conditions as a matter of urgency.  The Foundation has repeatedly offered to discuss Anne’s retirement with Mr. Roberts but to no avail.

This sad story was highlighted in the Sunday Mirror on April 15th 2007, as part of their expose, "Anne Agony" in which they reported that Anne had received “40 seconds of sunlight and exercise in 26 hours”.

What You Can Do:

We are calling on you to help us achieve the only sensible and compassionate conclusion – a ban on all wild animals in circuses. You can do this by writing to the Minister for Animal Welfare, Jim Fitzpatrick MP at:

Defra
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR