We the undersigned, call upon the South African government to review archaic legislation that supports the abuse of animals in circuses and to end the issuing of permits that legalise it.

Already widely banned internationally, we agree that the confinement, shackling, caging and transportation of a lion for the purpose of performing stage tricks is a self-evident abuse and an offence to this proud symbol of Africa and to Africa as a whole.

Likewise, inflicting the same fate on other wildlife that is so completely artificial and depriving of their natural life, is not a use but an abuse.

This is not to speak of the methodology of the training or the quality of their care.

It does not define a circus, is no longer acceptable and we know it.