Intruders' apparent bid to release elephant fails

Intruders with jumbo-size liberation plans have broken into an elephant trailer at a circus in Christchurch freeing only smaller animals, including a llama.

Loritz Circus yesterday accused animal activists of freeing the creatures into North Hagley Park early on Sunday.

However, the animal rights group that protested against the care of a circus elephant, Jumbo, the previous day denied any involvement.

Loritz Circus operations manager Marcus Loritz said staff heard a disturbance about 4am on Sunday.

They were investigating the noise when they saw people running from the circus site.

The circus, which has been based in the park since December 31 and performs its final show on Sunday, said it was the second break-in attempt in the past week.

"They were inside the trailer and opened the back of the trailer and pulled the ramp down and opened the fences," Loritz said.

Smaller animals, including a llama, goat and miniature horse, enclosed with the elephant had wandered out of the enclosure.

"Luckily, they didn't wander too far."

The intruders could not release Jumbo because of locks in the trailer. However, they had got inside the the feeding area of the elephant's trailer.

"It's really dangerous and disturbing to the elephant. It's actually terrible because if they are animal activists they should know those animals could get onto the road and get killed, or cause an accident.

"I don't know what they were thinking.

"We have had quite a lot of grief since we have been here."

Save Animals from Exploitation (Safe) campaign officer Sacha Dowell said the group was told of the break-in on Tuesday, and was not involved.

"Safe had nothing to do with it. We work within the law," she said.

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. The damage would cost several thousand dollars.