ANIMAL rights campaigners have slammed two senior community figures for their role in a circus procession involving a 52-year-old elephant. The parade took place at the opening of Bobby Roberts' Super Circus at Caernarfon's Aber Foreshore, last week, and has drawn criticism as the Indian elephant Ann is the last being used by a British circus. Campaigners have long condemned the circus for its use of animals in performances and were irate to see Caernarfon's Mayor, Cllr Roy Owen, and Chamber of Trade chairman, Gareth Edwards, involved with the procession. Mr Edwards rode on the elephant's back. Craig Redmond, of the Captive Animals Protection Society (Caps), believes community leaders should be condemning the use of wild animals in circuses rather than endorsing them. He said: "Caps finds it disgusting that public figures such as Caernarfon's chair of the Chamber of Trade, Gareth Edwards, and Mayor Roy Owen should participate in the promotion of such a controversial animal circus. "All major animal welfare organisations are opposed to the use of performing animals and the world's leading elephant experts condemn the use of elephants in circuses. "This elephant is elderly and alone. She should not be subjected to being transported around the country to perform for the entertainment of a few people." In July, Colwyn Bay's Mayor Alison Lloyd-Roberts was due to ride the elephant but decided against participating after receiving opposition from fellow councillors. Caps said it wished the Caernarfon figures had taken the same course of action. Mr Redmond said: "Mr Edwards and Mayor Owen should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for participating in this stunt." Dr Roger Yates, an expert in animal abuse at Bangor University, feels people should be more aware of the moral implications of visiting circuses using animals. He said: "There are hidden truths about preparing wild and semi-wild non-humans for circus use. Typically they often endure a four-stage process to ready them for public consumption. "Firstly, taming. Secondly, training. Thirdly, rehearsal and finally, routine performance. The public get to see stage four and sometimes three. "Numbers one and two may most obviously create the abuses that concern animal welfarists. All stages create the rights violations that concern animal rights advocates. "The truth is, no person has the right to give financial and moral support to such treatment of sentient, non-human animals." Gareth Edwards has defended his decision to ride the elephant and said, from what he saw, the animals were kept in good conditions. He said: "The owner asked if the Mayor would ride in as the Mayor of Bournemouth had enjoyed the same experience but Roy wore a suit and asked me to do it instead, which I thought would be good publicity for the town. We were shown how well the animals were kept. "Myself and the Mayor were shown the spacious surroundings the animals had to live in." Mr Edwards said he had no regrets about joining in the parade and felt the circus was good for the town. "The circus looked after both my family and the Mayor and Mayoress very well and everything they did was professional," he said. "The circus was a credit to Bobby Roberts and was made possible by the Mayor Roy Owen making sure that the event could go ahead." Cllr Roy Owen did not wish to make any comment. | 
