Some 300 animal rights activists protested the cruelty and exploitation of animals at a Malta circus on Wednesday evening. Organizers told Bikya Masr that the demonstration was part of their continued efforts to have the circus shut down and get the animals sent to sanctuaries. The protesters walked from City Gate to Floriana Granaries, where the circus has been set up. The crowd included representatives of 20 NGOS which form the Circus Animal Rights Coalition. “We are here to show our disappointment in the circus organizers who continue to believe that animals are okay to use in this manner,” said Federica, a 29-year-old Maltese animal rights activist. Some of those present shouted “No to animal cruelty, No to animal circuses.” They also carried banners against animal cruelty and jeered and booed the people who walked into the circus tent. A spokesman for the coalition said the NGOs were concerned that notwithstanding the public's opposition to the exploitation of animals in circuses, JS Productions had still brought to Malta a circus which featured animals. In the morning, circus organizers Silvio Zammit and Johann Said said the circus featured two lions, two bears, a tiger and a hippo. They were born in captivity and cared for in line with EU rules, they insisted. The circus also features acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers and a water show. BM
