Britain's Tiger Kings?

Netflix's Tiger King was the documentary success of 2020. Featuring a collection of bizarre big cat owners in the United States with particular emphasis on the Tiger King Joe Exotic. Since its success media producers have been very keen to try and emulate that success by producing documentaries featuring similar subject matter.

To this end, the UK's ITV television network broadcast a two part documentary in March 2021 entitled: Britain's Tiger Kings. The documentary was fronted by actor and producer Ross Kemp and was a co-production produced by Honey Bee Media in association with Freshwater Films which is owned by Kemp.

In a press release ITV described the documentaries as:

"...Ross Kemp is on the trail of Britain's tiger and lion kings. He meets a man with lions in his back garden, a couple with a vast menagerie made from scrap and an ex-circus trainer who owns five tigers..."

ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL AT IT AGAIN: Animal Defenders International & Anne the elephant

ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL AT IT AGAIN: Animal Defenders International & Anne the elephant

The discredited animal rights group Animal Defenders International (ADI) are at it again trying to get their hands on Anne the elephant.

This despite the fact Anne the elephant has arthritis and can't be moved to be with other elephants because of this underlying health condition. Anne now lives in a purpose-built facility at Longleat Safari Park which was constructed from public money after an appeal from the Daily Mail newspaper. She receives expert care from genuine specialists in elephant husbandry.

Nevertheless, ADI is absolutely desperate to get their hands on Anne the elephant to put her in an animal rights run sanctuary so they have control over her and use her for their propaganda purposes.

Soft Animal Rights: Appeasement of an animal-apartheid ideology

Martin Clunes joins the growing list of celebrities that thought Animal Rights would not touch them so long as they helped their cause.

Soft Animal-Rights is all around us. In most cases, it is a cynical form of virtue signalling. Celebrities and people in the animal world are lured by it. The idea is that if you give some ground to ideologists (as opposed to just sticking with progressive science-based animal welfare) they will either leave you alone or help bolster your public image. The problem is that AR ideology is an unavoidably extremist cause and once you step into it you will find that is very hard to justify half-measures. Furthermore, you will find yourself in a crazy reality that you helped foster.

Animal Defenders International Get It Wrong: All Animals Have Not Been Banned By Law From Italian Circuses.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) is well known for their gratuitous and congratulatory self-promotion. Promoting themselves as key players in animal welfare where in fact they are no more than yet another ideologically driven animal rights business.

Their most recent pronouncement was that the Italian government has decided to ban the use of all animals in circuses.  Animal Defenders International state:
 

"The final vote on the bill to phase out ALL animals in circuses and travelling shows took place on November 8th 2017 in the Assembly of the Italian Parliament and is now law! Rules for implementation of the new legislation to phase out all animals in circuses will be set out within one year by a Ministerial decree."

This statement is untrue. In an address to the Italian Parliament (in regulations that relate to the performing arts) it was suggested that circuses would discontinue animal acts. The Italian Senate will sit again in March and if this regulation does go through circuses will have three years to remove animal acts.

Scottish ban on wild animals in circuses. Banning Circuses, Banning Zoos.

The Scottish Parliament has continued to collate opinions about their proposed ban on wild animals in circuses.  On 13 June 2017, it was the opportunity of the animal-rights movement to present evidence.  For those who have followed this process they would be aware that Martin Burton of Zippos Circus suggested at a Parliamentary committee meeting, that the new legislation proposed by the Scottish Parliament could in fact mean the end of zoos.  This was reported widely in the media. 

Scottish ban on wild animals in circuses. Thomas Chipperfield Responds

Thomas Chipperfield on the cover of The Telegraph Magazine.

As many know from our recent blog, the Scottish government is planning to introduce a bill to ban performing animals in travelling circuses.  Below we reproduce a letter from Thomas Chipperfield who is the UK's only current big cat trainer working in a travelling circus. This is a copy of a letter he has sent to the Scottish; Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.  We are grateful to Thomas Chipperfield for allowing us to reproduce it here.

Scottish ban on wild animals in circuses. Is it really ethical?

As many know from our recent blog, the Scottish government is planning to introduce a bill to ban performing animals in travelling circuses.  In a similar vein to the British government, the Scottish governments say they wish to ban this activity based on ethical grounds.  The British government made the point they could not ban animals in circuses on welfare grounds because it was not supported by the available science.  But what exactly do they mean by ethics?  In addition, what is the opinion of a qualified academic regarding this matter?

Below we reproduce a letter from Professor Ron Beadle who is Professor of Organisation and Business Ethics at Northumbria University. This is a copy of a letter he has sent to the Scottish environment change in land reform committee.  We are grateful to Professor Ron Beadle allowing us to reproduce it here.

Scottish Circus Animal Ban: Questionable Ethics?

For those who do not know yet, the Scottish Parliament have published a bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. With all the pressing matters arising from the impending Brexit; a debate over a second referendum on Scottish independence; recent acts of terrorism occurring in Britain*; immigration issues; foreign policy debates; concerns of educational cuts; problems with the National Health Service; and the inherent challenges met by an ageing population; it’s nice to know that our politicians want to tackle such an urgent matter as the banning of a minority animal enterprise that has regularly met its English regulatory standards.

The Review of the Welfare of Wild Animals in Circuses – Far from Impartial? Part 1

A review of the welfare of wild animals in circuses, which was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly, has finally been published.  It will come as no surprise to many, including Rouster, that the whole exercise was going to be a “greenwash” in favour of the animal-rights lobby. 

See: Is Welsh Assembly trying to 'fix' a circus animals ban?

First, the lead scientist, Professor Stephen Harris, chosen to undertake this review has co-authored a paper in 2009 condemning the use of wild animals in circuses; a situation that should have at least challenged his scientific neutrality on this issue.  He also has a reputation for involvement with various animal-rights lobby groups including The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS).  This association and his long-term friendship with a leading member this organization caused a court case in 2015 to be dismissed and brought into judgment his objectivity is an independent witness.