RSPCA and police called in after Animal Defenders secretly film circus worker kicking and beating Anne the elephant
One of the country's most famous circuses has become a target for animal welfare activists after a worker was secretly filmed beating an elephant.
Police were called to the Bobby Roberts Super Circus big top near Knutsford, Cheshire, as families from the audience leaving the performance were heckled by protesters.
The film showed the UK's last performing elephant, Anne, being struck by her minder with a pitchfork.
Northamptonshire police and the RSPCA have begun an inquiry in response to the video shot by Animal Defenders International. It also shows Anne, a 57-year-old Asian elephant, being repeatedly kicked in the face and body, and shackled by heavy chains.
The pressure group said it took the footage between 21 January and 15 February as the elephant was housed in a barn in Polebrook, Northamptonshire.
The circus has placed metal security barriers around its big top. Staff said there had been death threats and the Roberts family said they feared for their safety.
Moira Roberts, 72, said: "We have nothing to hide. We have been victimised for something that is not our fault. There have been phone calls to the poor girl on the box office and death threats made."
She described the treatment of the elephant by the man as "brutal and horrible", and added: "I would never hurt or chastise any animal." But she said the elephant had not shown any signs of distress and had been examined by two vets who had found no marks on her.
Anne has been treated for arthritis for the last 15 years and the circus owners said they had been completely open about her plight. She is to be rehomed at Longleat safari park. Roberts said they had been negotiating for two years to find a new home for her. "The problem is she doesn't like other elephants as they bully her and steal her food. She gets on with the ponies, camel and horses."
Bookings for the circus had fallen 99% because of the scandal, Roberts said.