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WATCH: Locals protest McLaren Circus
The circus is currently in town at the Mbombela Showgrounds.
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MBOBELA – McLaren Circus arrived in town on Friday to the great dismay of some locals.
Even though the circus did not open last night due to the weather delaying the arrival of some of its equipment, locals started a peaceful protest.
Even though the circus did not open last night due to the weather delaying the arrival of some of its equipment, locals started a peaceful protest.
According to a permit that they obtained from the City of Mbombela Local Municipality, they have the right to protest at every show.
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“We want to make it very clear that we are not against the circus, only the use of animals for entertainment,” the convenor of the protesters Billy van Biljon, said.
He explained that they felt that the animals were being abused.
https://youtu.be/Ok4smWgtGQk
According to the circus owner, David McLaren, his animals are not subject to abuse.
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“The circus is one of the that has interactions with wild animals. It’s a moral belief, if you don’t like it, you don’t like it. People need to understand that we all have different moral beliefs.”
He added that “just because the animals are in the circus it does not mean that they are being abused. I know that we look after our animals and I know that they are comfortable here and I that they are taken care of and that they know nothing else but my circus”.