Animal trainer hits back at claims big cats’ conditions are grim

One of the tigers being held at Circus High School

By Jamie Ross

The owner of the big cats being kept near a north-east village has hit back at claims that his animals are being mistreated.

Thomas Chipperfield is currently wintering two lions and three tigers at Circus High School in Cairnglass, near St Combs. He had previously used the animals as part of Peter Jolly’s Circus.
But a worldwide animal rights group has condemned the treatment of the performing animals.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) last night said that life for the lions and tigers at the farmland school was “grim.”

A Peta spokesman said: “Life in Peter Jolly’s Circus – or any circus – is no life at all for animals. Tigers and lions shun contact with humans and can only be trained to perform silly tricks through dominance, fear and beatings. Being held in cages at the Circus High School in Cairnglass is a grim existence, indeed. “British lawmakers must slam the door shut on circus cruelty once and for all by banning animals in performances.”

It has led to Mr Chipperfield calling the claims unfounded. He said: “That is a very bold statement to make without any evidence. All I can do is provide my animals as proof that I don’t mistreat them – because of their health both physically and mentally. “We’ve always passed inspections. That, along with my animal welfare and public safety record, is all spotless. That’s something I take enormous pride in.”

Anthony Beckwith, who works with Mr Chipperfield in training the animals, also refuted the claims.
He said: “We don’t train through dominance. We are strictly regulated by official, government animal welfare agencies. “Their (Peta’s) views are very extreme. We’re quite an easy target for them given the nature of our business, but the official animal welfare experts at DEFRA regulate us. Everything we do with the animals has to be recorded.”

The local author have previously said that everything at the school is above board with council officers and a vet having visited the animals.

The Scottish SPCA were also satisfied with the condition of the big cats. A spokeswoman for the charity yesterday said they had not received any complaints from anyone who has seen the animals so far.

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