Jumbo moving to Mosgiel

Jumbo the elephant has been given her marching orders from a Dunedin pub.

Circus management was informed by the SPCA yesterday the 35-year-old African elephant would have to move from the Kensington pub car park to a more suitable home.

Last week, the elephant was banned from Dunedin City Council parks and reserves but was given a temporary home at the pub's car park, which is near the Oval-based circus.

SPCA senior inspector Stephanie Saunders confirmed Jumbo's locations did not meet the minimum standards required by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for circus animals.

"I have been visiting her over the past few days. We have never been happy about her being in a pub car park."

The small enclosure, bitumen surface and lack of exercise were all breaches of minimum standards by the circus, she said.

The circus had been given until today to move the four-tonne elephant to a more suitable location and were "quite gracious about it".

"We are all trying for a suitable solution," she said.

Loritz Circus spokesman Paul Johnson said the pub car park was always a "temporary solution" and the elephant would be heading to the A and P showgrounds in Mosgiel today.

"The only reason she is here is because of a last-minute decision by the Dunedin City Council."

The Kensington manager, Craig Bradford, said it would be "sad for the children of Dunedin if she had to go".

The pub began a petition at noon yesterday to protest the move and by last night had more than 500 signatures calling for Jumbo to remain.

 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement