Circus Campaigns

2000-2008

Saving Arna

In 2000, Animal Liberation campaigned for Arna’s, an Asian elephant, release. Our calls were joined by fashion designer, Stella McCartney, the Pretenders’ lead singer, Chrissie Hynde, the Silverchair frontman, Daniel Johns, the spoon bender, Uri Geller, the German pop star, Nina Hagen, the Sydney bar owner, Justin Hemmes, and the Nova radio announcer, Bianca Dye.

Animal Liberation was accompanied by Dr Roger Mugford, an animal behaviour expert, to Stardust circus. They captured evidence and he wrote a report for the Department of Agriculture, highlighting numerous breaches to the Exhibited Animals Protection Act. Dr Mugford advised strongly that the circus be closed on the grounds of inadequate provision for its animals and many areas of public safety concern. Aside from keeping Arna alone, some other findings were:

• She had no access to overnight shelter

• There was no access to drinking water (a hose was put in her mouth a couple of times each day)

• She had a poor diet

• Her ears had been damaged by the use of an ankus or other short instrument, commonly used in cruel training methods

• Her feet and skin were badly neglected, the E.A.P. recommends elephants receive daily bathing/scrubbing.

After the public became more aware of Arna’s plight, the circus brought three elephants to visit Arna. Animal Liberation was there to film her interaction with them and her distress when they left.

In 2001, Animal Liberation took the circus to the Supreme Court on the basis of animal cruelty. Unfortunately, we lost the case and Arna was left to continue her miserable existence with the circus. In 2002, the circus agreed to pair Arna with Gigi, another lone elephant from Ashton Circus.

But the psychological damage from spending 6-years alone was already done.

In 2007, at age 49, Arna killed her handler just moments before her performance. He was found face down with a broken back and ruptured aorta – a sign that she had crushed him. Mark Pearson, Animal Liberation’s CEO at the time, was informed by a trapeze artist at the circus that Arna and Gigi’s handler, had beaten Gigi with a piece of 4 by 2 timber, before approaching Arna. She had enough and took a stand for her beloved friend and herself.

As it has been noted in other cases, elephants who kill, will kill again, and so the circus agreed to release Arna and Gigi to the Western Plains Zoo. This day marked the final day of elephants being exploited in Australian circuses. Arna and Gigi were finally able to experience a somewhat “normal” life, free from shackles, tiny enclosures, travel, loud music, and unnautral performances.