Group to protest use of animals at circus in Cork

An animal protest group is to stage a protest at a circus in Cork city after a runaway elephant was caught on camera in the city on Tuesday.

The Indian elephant gave customers in Blackpool shopping centre in the city a fright when it broke free from the Courtney Bros circus camped nearby.

The pachyderm, ignoring the efforts of a keeper to bring it under control, ambled through the shopping centre car park before dashing onto a nearby road.

It was eventually brought under control and returned to the circus.

Footage of the incident was captured by workers in an office block overlooking the scene.

Protestors will lead a shackled 'elephant' at an ARAN protest at 3pm on Saturday at Courtney Brothers Circus, Sunbeam, Blackpool, Cork, to call for the circus to stop using elephants and other animals in their acts.

The protesters will hold banners reading, 'Release Neville the Elephant and Friends Now' and 'Elephants Don’t Belong in Chains' and will urge members of the public and potential circus goers to patronize only animal-act free circuses.

ARAN’s John Carmody said: "Judging from the response we are getting from the public since Neville’s break for freedom, we can safely say that the writing is on the wall for animal-act circuses in this country.

"It is time to reinvigorate a dying industry and start using amazing all-out acrobats and stunning artistic performers.

"Councils nationwide need to take action without delay and introduce motions to ban animal-act circuses using their land and government must introduce legislation in the upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill, as the next incident might be more deadly."