Dunedin turns elephant away

KIRK HARGREAVES/ The Press

NO GO: Jumbo the elephant, the subject of protests by animal rights group SAFE, has been denied entry to Dunedin's parks.

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Dunedin has refused Jumbo the circus elephant following pressure from an animal rights group.

Jumbo, travelling with the Loritz Circus, will not be allowed on Dunedin City Council reserves after a change of heart by the council, the Otago Daily Times reported.

Jumbo, an African elephant, was initially granted an exemption by a council committee this month from rules banning exotic animals from council-owned reserves.

But campaigning by the Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE) group swayed enough councillors yesterday to change their initial decision to allow the circus elephant to perform.

The meeting voted nine votes to five not to approve the exemption.

The circus is due to perform in Dunedin over Easter.

Safe campaign officer Sacha Dowell yesterday said her group had provided what she said was evidence the 35-year-old elephant was being kept in breach of a code of welfare.

That included photographs of a chain around the animal's foot that was not properly covered with plastic to keep it from contact with the skin.

As well, it was not getting the eight hours of exercise a day required, and the group had supplied evidence on its emotional state.

Loritz marketing manager Paul Johnson last night told the Otago Daily Times he was devastated by the decision.

"They have been conned by SAFE."

The circus would still come to the Oval, Dunedin, next week, but an "alternative site" for Jumbo would need to be found.

In January, Loritz Circus claimed intruders broke into Jumbo's trailer when the circus was in Christchurch intending to free the elephant, managing only to free smaller animals, including a llama.

Safe denied any involvement.

Loritz said paint had also been poured into the circus's diesel tanks and splashed over vehicles.

Animal rights messages had been painted on the sides of the trailer, while the entrance to the circus tent had been slashed, causing thousand of dollars worth of damage.

- © Fairfax NZ News