Annie the elephant to say goodbye to circus
A CIRCUS elephant at the centre of an abuse scandal will move to a new home imminently, the Northamptonshire circus owners have revealed.
Arthritic 57-year-old elephant Annie is set to leave her home at Bobby Roberts Super Circus owners Bobby and Moira Roberts, aged 72 and 68 respectively, who have always maintained they did not know the elephant was being beaten, have said.
Mrs Roberts made the announcement following increasing pressure to re-home Annie following the release of covert footage by pressure group Animal Defenders International (ADI) showing the Asian elephant being beaten 48 times.
She said: “It has always been our plan to move Annie to a new home within the next two years – it will now be sooner rather than later. It will be a place of our choice and it will not be a zoo, reports she is going to Whipsnade are not true.
“We are making the final arrangements and should be in a position to say where tomorrow. She is not fit to travel so will not be going abroad.”
Both Northamptonshire Police and the RSPCA have been investigating allegations of abuse at the circus and it was reported Whipsnade had sent a veterinary expert to examine the elephant, with the possibility of providing a home for her.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “We visited Annie yesterday with a vet to examine her and talk to her owners about the possibility of living out her last days in a sanctuary or safari park. In the meantime we will be monitoring Annie to ensure her safety and wellbeing.
“The Government is due to make an announcement in the next month or so and we hope this evidence will show that only a ban on wild animals can prevent such acts from happening again.”
Northampton North MP Michael Ellis also voiced concern about Annie. He said: “I was shocked and disgusted when I saw the despicable footage of Annie being attacked. It is wicked and utterly sickening that this beautiful animal has been treated in this way. I have always had concerns about animals being in circuses and over the last year have received in the region of 30 letters on the subject.”
More than 4,000 people signed a petition calling for Annie to be re-homed.
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 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
c2
Monday, April 25, 2011 at 06:43 AMI went to see Annie (Anne) at her new home in Longleat ( http:www.longleat.co.uk ) She seems to be peaceful and happy. I am very proud of all of us who made a difference in her life. Let our voices be heard loud and clear about ending animal circuses in Great Britain, and wishfully all over this planet as well. Cheers Everyone!!!!
JulieJackson
Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 09:25 PMI think the same should be done to them tied up and beaten. I think Annie should go to longleat lots of open space and nice keepers. x
JulieJackson
Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 08:54 PMI think the same should be done to them tied up and beaten. I think Annie should go to longleat lots of open space and nice keepers. x
Rosemary50
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 05:33 PMJust a thought, surely if this Romanian was employed by the circus he should have a national insurance number or work permit confirming his identity, this information could then be passed on to the police for investigation and prosecution. If Mrs Roberts is as upset as quoted she should be doing everything possible to hound this monster down and force him to face prosecution!
c2
Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 11:18 PMhttp:manchesteranimalaction.wordpr...-october-2005
c2
Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 11:17 PMI just read this and got sick with the probability that Annie will stay with the same circus once things die down. This is not the first time this owner (aka monster) has been investigated for allowing THIS SAME ANIMAL to be abused. This report of her being badly treated goes back to 2005 http:manchesteranimalaction.wordpr...-october-2005 http:www.thisisleicestershire.co.u...larticle.html ARE WE SURE SHE HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM THOSE MONSTERS?
kronik
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 05:31 PMI expect Annie is packing her trunk right now ready to leave the circus. Next the aged Roberts need to be rehomed preferably where they will be looked afer by the same worker who mistreated Annie.
marjorie
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 04:25 PMI HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND IT SAYS THAT ELEPHANTS LIVE ON AVERAGE 60 - 70 YEARS. LETS HOPE ANNE HAS MANY YEARS OF HAPPY RETIREMENT LEFT. YES A FUND WOULD BE GREAT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS USED FOR THE BEST CARE AN ELEPHANT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE. WILL BE FANTASTIC IF SHE IS REHOMED BY THE WEEKEND. FINGERS CROSSED
.~* JEZ *~.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 02:22 PMCan the Chron update us as to where she might be re-homed?
c2
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 01:01 PMLet’s make sure that Annie gets to a sanctuary and that she is not just forgotten after this pressure subsides. The owners should not make any more money on this poor animal. They claim she was retired, but they forgot to mention they’ve charged £8 for a photo of Annie while in retirement. I'm certain they will try to get even more for her right now. It would be nice to know the identity of the criminal monster who did this to this poor animal.
shel
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 11:13 AMi am so pleased annie is going to new home..my heart was ripped out when i saw the video.....i hope that who ever that person or persons was on the video will be brought to justice and i hope bobby roberts rots in hell would anyone be interested if i set a fund up for annie in some way i am on facebook sharon stone or email mrssmc@hotmail.co.uk thinking of u annie xxxxxxx
marjorie
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 10:02 AMI AM SO PLEASED I AM CRYING WITH RELIEF AS IT GAVE ME NIGHTMARES. THANK YOU WHOEVER IS SORTING THIS OUT. NEXT STEP FIND THE EVIL PERSON WHO WAS DOING THIS AND BRING HIM TO JUSTICE.
Rocketman
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 10:01 AMThe Roberts should have NO say in where Annie goes. Sounds like at their age they are having trouble looking after themselves never mind a beautiful animal like Annie. Safari Park would be a great place for her to retire to as she will be properly looked after.
lady muck
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 08:29 AMAbout time Mr & Mrs Roberts were also moved on to a new home.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.