MALALANE – Concern over animal rights and cruelty flared up after residents heard that one of the country’s largest circuses, McLaren Circus, would be visiting Malelane and Komatipoort this week.
A group of representative community members gathered at Malelane Rugby Club, where the circus will set up, on Monday afternoon to discuss the issue and the way forward.
Corridor Gazette received a letter from one of the concerned citizens summarising their concerns on Monday morning.
Besides animal cruelty, concerned citizens were worried about the rugby club’s proximity to the Kruger National Park, that waste disposal would not be done properly and that foreign diseases could transfer to the wild animals and vice versa.
The group consulted with experts in the field, who added that the noise made and pheromones released could add to the stress levels of the circus and wild animals. The wildlife’s curiosity could also possibly drive them to break through the fence to investigate.
Circus owner David McLaren attended the meeting and defended his circus and refuted claims of animal cruelty.
McLaren started the circus 13 years ago at the age of 21, fulfilling a childhood dream. He has developed it into one of the largest circuses in South Africa and possibly the entire continent.
He stated that he regularly dealt with passionate activists and that there was usually a uproar when the circus visited an area for the first time in years. He maintained that he loved animals and was against animal cruelty.
McLaren stressed that the majority of the circus acts were performed by humans and that they only had a handful of animals.
The animals were born in captivity and hand-raised by McLaren. “These animals are like pets and part of my family. I spend lots of time with them, groom them and they get time to play on the grass in outside cages,” he explained.
The circus is constantly monitored by the National Council of SPCAs and works with specialist vets to ensure the animals are well looked after. Local SPCAs also visit them in the various towns in which they perform.
Corridor Gazette’s sister publication, Lowvelder, called on the circus when it performed in Mbombela two years ago and McLaren demonstrated his training methods to the journalist, which the circus still follows.
She found “healthy, well-fed animals living in decent-sized movable cages”. A stick was used to feed meat snacks to the animals, and a whip to point them in a direction, said McLaren, not to hit the animals.
READ: McLaren circus addresses community concerns
McLaren invited concerned community members to visit the circus to see for themselves whether the animals were being mistreated.
The group of community members discussed the issue civilly, arguing points both for and against the circus visit.
Due to the short notice and the fact that the circus had all of its paperwork in order, it was decided to give the event the go-ahead.
Malelane Rugby Club’s management stated that it did not support animal abuse and would in future consult the community before agreeing to any similar event on the grounds.
For more information on the circus, their acts and ticket prices, click here.
