Girl group Little Mix feature in the new PETA ad campaign, captured by photographer Trevor Leighton. Their message is loud and clear; "Shackled, Beaten and Depressed. Get Wild Animals Out of the Circus!" The band join all the major animal protection organisations, a lot of veterinary bodies and most of the British public in a nationwide demand to put an end to the suffering of wild animals in circuses.
Little Mix pose for PETA
"We were shocked to learn that wild animals are still suffering in circuses. Animals don't jump through rings of fire for fun - they do so out of fear, and it's time to ban this so-called form of entertainment once and for all," said Little Mix superstar Leigh-Anne Pinnock on behalf of the group. "There's no reason why animals should still be suffering in circuses, and we hope that by posing for this ad, we'll be doing our bit to help ban the use of wild animals in circuses. We hope, too, that our fans will join us in supporting PETA's campaign to end this cruelty."
"The British people have spoken - and the vast majority want a ban on forcing elephants, lions and other animals to perform in circuses", says PETA Director Mimi Bekhechi. "PETA and Little Mix are calling on the new government to listen to the will of the people and allow only circuses that feature willing human performers."
PETA recently exposed videos of baby elephants being stretched out, slammed against the ground, gouged with bull hooks and shocked with electric prods. When they are not performing, they are kept in confined spaces for 23 hours a day.
Little Mix are not the only celebrities that are getting involved; Simon Cowell, P!nk, Tom Hardy, Rylan Clark and Alexandra Burke have also teamed up with PETA to encourage kindness to animals.
David Cameron promised that a ban on wild animal circuses would take place in January 2015, however no legislation was brought to Parliament during the last government, meaning that many animals suffered as a consequence.
To join the campaign urging the prime minister to bring forward legislation banning this archaic form of "entertainment", visit http://petauk.org/circusban.
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