A Spanish highway was closed yesterday after a lorry carrying a bunch of circus animals overturned in Albacete, west of Valencia. Four elephants were inside and sadly one died in the incident with two others injured.
The one that died fell out of the truck and slid into a ditch, whereas the others were free to walk around on the road, with pictures showing them bloodied and bruised.
Police put up some crash barriers to prevent drivers from getting through. They released a statement saying: "The A30 has been closed because a lorry has overturned. Elephants are loose on the tarmac.
"The motorway has been closed around the Pozo Canada area heading towards Murcia."
That's probably a statement they'd never imagined writing.
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It's reported they belong to Gottani Circus - organisers haven't yet released a statement about the incident.
Spanish animal rights political party PACMA has kicked off a petition to ban Gottani Circus from owning and using animals in their performances.
PACMA President Silvia Barquero adds: "If they do not do it ethically, at least someone in our government should begin to wonder if it is natural for animals accustomed to living in large areas, such as an elephant or a lion, to travel in narrow cubicles on Spanish roads.
"The life of a circus animal is hell. They live in deplorable conditions and no other party does anything for them. It is time to open our eyes to the cruelty of this sector. "
"An accident on the highway is not the place where anyone wants to see an elephant. But the animals would not cross hoops of fire, walk on two legs or ride a bike, except for fear of reprisals that involves not doing so."
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He's applied to the city of Hellín City Council, where the circus is due to have a performance in two days.
The UK government says it hopes to phase wild animals from circuses in England by 2020. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been working on the ban for five years and once it comes through it will bring England in line with Scotland and Ireland.
At the moment, only two circuses, Circus Mondao and Peter Jolly's Circus, have licences to use wild animals in their performances. Between them they own 19 animals, which include reindeer, zebras, camels, racoons, a fox, macaw and a zebu.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter / Policía Local AlbaceteTopics: World News, Circus, Feels, Spain, Elephant, Animals
