Activists decry cruel and dangerous Shrine circus!

August 14, 2002 (Montreal) - Activists sporting biohazard coveralls, masks and helmets will be alerting circus-goers to the hazards of attending the Shrine circus this coming Saturday, 17 August, 11am, at the Fairview Mall in Pointe-Claire.
Canadian and US government officials have confirmed that Agriculture Canada ordered the quarantine and deportation of three Shrine circus elephants suspected of having tuberculosis in early July. The elephants are owned by the Tarzan Zerbini Circus, which is contracted by the Shriners to perform shows across Canada and were previously quarantined for TB testing in 1999. Tarzan Zerbini has stated that if the TB results are negative the elephants will return to Canada for any remaining Shrine circus dates in Quebec and Ontario.

Global Action Network has sent a letter to Lyle Vanclief, Minister of Agriculture, requesting that he ban the importation of elephants from the US on the grounds that these animals pose an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of Canadians.
"The strains of TB in these elephants are transmissible to humans," stated Andrew Plumbly, Director of Global Action Network. "This just adds to the long list of animal welfare, human health and safety reasons why the public should steer clear of circuses that exploit animals."

Since 1996, scientists at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have identified 5 distinct strains of human TB in 8 different elephant groups in California, Illinois, Arkansas, Florida and Missouri. USDA veterinarians have freely admitted that despite an elephant testing negative for TB they can still be contagious and transmit the disease to human beings.

Tarzan Zerbini has been cited eight times by the USDA for failure to administer veterinary care and properly maintain animal housing and their animals have injured 15 people over the past 10 years.

"Wild animals such as elephants and tigers suffer tremendously in a circus environment," concluded Plumbly. "The animals, which are often endangered in the wild, face a life of constant travel, intensive confinement, social and psychological deprivation, beatings, and neglect. It is in the best interests of the animals and the public to put a final end to circuses that use animals."

Global Action Network will be protesting against the Shrine Circus at 11am on Sat, 17 Aug -Fairview Mall, Pointe Claire.

For more information on Tuberculosis in elephants, the Shriners, the Tarzan Zerbini Circus, and the lives of circus animals, please visit http://www.gan.ca.

Upcoming Canadian Shrine Circus dates include: Quebec: Pointe Claire & DDO (Aug 16-25), Laval (Aug 30 - Sept 15), Lasalle (Sept 20 - 22); Ontario: Ottawa (Sept 27-29)

For more information, please contact Andrew Plumbly
Tel: 514-939-5525 andrew@gan.ca