Tusker of love over a circus elephant (From This Is Wiltshire)

Tusker of love over a circus elephant

11:00am Thursday 26th June 2008

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ELEPHANT Anne who is with Bobby Roberts Circus on the Common in Marlborough is at the centre of an ongoing controversy.

Animal rights campaigners say the 55-year-old elephant, believed to be the oldest in the UK, should be retired from life on the road.

However, the circus says Anne was retired from performing seven years ago and travels "as one of the family".

Moira Roberts is the wife of Bobby Roberts Snr who was a teenager when Anne joined the circus and has been her keeper throughout her circus life.

Mrs Roberts said: "Anne is the oldest surviving elephant in Europe which proves how well she is looked after and cared for.

"She has not performed for over seven years but having worked faithfully for me for over 45 years we will now give her every possible care, attention and love for the rest of her life."

Mrs Roberts said Anne knew no other life. "For Anne to be anywhere other than in the circus, where she is with the humans who are her family, whom she knows and trusts, together with the other circus animals who have become her constant companions, would cause her unnecessary stress," she said.

"Indeed, it could easily make lose her life which would be heartbreaking."

The Born Free Foundation and the Captive Animal Protection Society have been campaigning for several years for Anne to found a permanent home instead of extensive travelling.

However, she can be seen by the public after shows and CAPS said she had been used in a TV commercial as recently as 2005.

Roberts is the first circus for many years to have an exotic wild animal. Marlborough Town Council has no policy on animal acts.

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