Circus owners are stunned by elephant abuse
THE circus owners at the centre of an elephant abuse scandal have spoken of their “devastation and shock” at seeing undercover video footage of the elderly animal being beaten, as a police investigation was launched.
Bobby and Moira Roberts, aged 72 and 68 respectively, of Bobby Roberts Super Circus, based in Northamptonshire, told the Chronicle & Echo they were horrified when they discovered Britain’s last circus elephant, Annie had been filmed being struck with a metal pitchfork, kicked in the face and body, and shackled by heavy chains in the winter quarters of their circus.
The images of the arthritic 57-year-old Asian elephant being beaten 48 times, have created a media furore after pressure group Animal Defenders International (ADI) filmed and released the covert video.
A tearful Mrs Roberts, said: “I can’t put into words how upset we are about this. I never seen Bobby like this in the whole of our 45 years of married life; he is absolutely distraught.
“We trusted that boy [Annie’s carer], we showed him how to look after that animal properly, it just seems completely out of character he would treat her like this.
“There were never any marks so we had no idea it was going on.
“I don’t understand why these campaigners didn’t tell us earlier so this could be stopped. They were filming for weeks and they could have put an end to it as soon as they saw it happening.
“Annie is fine now. We had our vet check her out as soon as possible. We are horrified this has happened to her.”
Mrs Roberts said a Romanian groom employed to care for the animal had since disappeared. She said: “I presume he is on his way back to where he came from.
“We wish we had been given the opportunity to prosecute him and hand him over to the police.”
Northamptonshire Police has released a statement saying that they were conducting a joint investigation into the matter with the RSPCA.
Animal rights campaigners have now called for a ban on the use of all wild animals in circuses
The ADI, which has previously campaigned for Annie to be released from the circus, said it shot the video amid concerns for Annie’s wellbeing.
Jan Creamer, ADI’s chief executive, said: “Annie’s tragic story symbolises the plight of circus animals and is a shocking indictment of the circus industry at a key time as government considers a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.
“ADI has been concerned for Annie’s welfare for many years and have followed her tragic plight. Poor Annie has been with the circus for over 50 years since she was baby, having been caught in the wild.
“Elephants are social and extremely intelligent so this has been a living hell for her.”
A petition to help Annie has been set up at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-annie-the-asian-elephant
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 15 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
twigletthepiglet
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 10:05 PMAnnie has made it to safety, though she should never have been removed from her natural habitat. There are enough wildlife documentaries showing the sentient nature of elephants, how they grieve for a lost relative, how intelligent they are etc etc. So what next? How about taking an interest in elephants in other circuses...no matter what country? Ringling Brothers who are in US have also come under the spotlight for animal abuse. Have a look at this report and footage: http:www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com or http:www.youtube.comwatch?v=_CKxNpnP5pM The Ringling representatives try to write off some of the displayed behaviours as normal. If you've ever watched a documentary on elephants you won't have seen much of this behaviour. THe rocking to and fro? How long must we go on living in a world where animals are used in the name of entertainment. It has no place...it never did...but please no more. We can make a difference by supporting available petitions that are so easy to sign such as this one: https:secure.peta.orgsiteAdvocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3311. It might not be much to simply put your name to it...but collectively we can make a massive difference!
mabbuttj
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 03:53 PMWhile it is disgusting about this lovley elephant The chinese are the cruelest country in the world to animals they skins dogs alive but because britian and lots of other countries trade with them nobody does a thing for these animals
WilliamJohns
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 10:48 PMWow, I guess cameras http:bit.lyhMGe8v really are everywhere.
vokey
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 04:57 PMBobby Roberts should be prosecuted, if he didnt know what was going on under his watch,he shouldnt be 'caring' for animals. If the poor creature had been stabbed surely there would have been blood stains. Also this is what you get when you employ ungoverned eastern europeans, any sign of trouble they can just dissapear into the woodwork, like many so called tradesmen who have dissapeared leaving a mess.
marjorie
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11:32 PMYES I HAVE HAD A LOOK. DOES NOT LOOK SUITABLE STANDING ON CONCRETE HER FEET MUST SORE AND NO SHELTER . POOR THING. THEY CHARGE £5 FOR TAKING A PHOTO. SHE IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THAT ..HOW CAN THEY LOVE HER WHEN THEY CAUSE SO MUCH MISERY ..SUCH SELFISH PEOPLE. THE PETITION HAS THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES. DONT FORGET TO SIGN..PLEASE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A CIRCUS IN MY LIFE.
SteveWonder
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 08:34 PMLook up Robert Lane Polebrook on Google Satellite Maps on maximum resolution............. and you can see an elephant in the lower right corner of the circus winter compound............ waddya think?
SteveWonder
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 08:23 PM“I don’t understand why these campaigners didn’t tell us earlier so this could be stopped." plead her owners. “Elephants are social and extremely intelligent so this has been a living hell for her... they have imposed a miserable life on her........... the beating is probably nothing compared to the psychological torture these horrible owners have put her through
.~* JEZ *~.
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 04:44 PMSick b****rds!! I'll be looking out for Bobby Roberts Circus for sure.
marjorie
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 03:40 PMTHIS IS DREADFULL STORY WITH THE COWARD FLEEING THE COUNTRY, SO HE KNOWS IT IS WRONG. THE POOR CREATURE NEEDS TO BE SENT TO A SANCTURY WITH OTHER ELEPHANTS NOT KEPT IN A FREEZING HELL HOLE CALLED HOME WHERE SHE IS BEATEN AND STABBED. THE OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE JUST AS MUCH FOR THE SICKENING ABUSE. THE RSPCA NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION NOW IN REMOVEING HER..AND BYE THE WAY DONT GO TO THE CIRCUS AND CONDONE THIS CRUELTY.
Reverend
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 03:38 PMAt least with a memory like that she'll be a good witness in court..
katieR
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 02:56 PMThe Roberts' knew very well what was happening in their barn - the same thing that always happens in their barn every winter season for the past ********* years. How convenient and predictable to blame the 'evil, rogue eastern- europeans' - same thing happened 2 years ago with the Great British Circus. NO, the owners of these disgusting circuses are to blame. This is the norm in these circuses, they must be closed down immediately and I really hope ADI can achieve a successful prosecution in this case.
Love Child
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 02:40 PMIf you believe anything that was said in this article then you need to run away and join the Circus, the owners have been around for decades and would have grown up with this type of behaviour, it is common place, what is described is old hat has been happening in circuses for years, the only thing that is said that is correct is that the behaviour watched for weeks should have been reported earlier, its a sad world
sulamite
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 02:19 PMComment removed by moderator
adyw17
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 01:36 PMComment removed by moderator
mr northampton town
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 01:25 PMThis is such a sad story, I hope the owners ( if you could ever call yourself an owner of a Wild note the word Wild animal) have this persons details including his work permit could make them public I am sure if we all worked together we could find this little person and look after him the same way. My simple life LOOK AFTER GODS CREATURES AND HE WILL LOOK AFTER YOU .
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.