Animal rights activists gathered outside the Orfei circus in Floriana last night and shouted loud words of protest against animal cruelty.

These animals live in captivity and have been made to undergo harsh training to... perform

“Torture... Freedom... Animal circus, animal cruelty,” were among their slogans while a show went on in the big top.

The 150 or so protesters gathered outside City Gate and walked towards the circus tents, accompanied by about 10 police officers, in a demonstration organised by the Animal Rights Coalition.

As they walked they chanted their message of animal cruelty to the background tune of drums and whistles.

Once they arrived near the circus, where more police officers were present, they were instructed to stay behind barricades.

Whenever they sensed movement from the tent, they booed at people there – just as they did during a similar protest last year.

TV personality Moira Delia, known as an avid animal lover, was among the protesters.

She said that although the circus organisers claimed the animals were treated well, the reality was that these animals lived in captivity and had been made to undergo harsh training to go against their natural instincts and perform. This, she said, was cruelty.

Echoing the call of the animal organisations who gathered yesterday, she said they wanted the government to hold to its commitment to ensure animal welfare and it should ban circuses with animals.

Meanwhile, inside the tent, an audience mostly made up of children was oblivious to the ethical debate surrounding their entertainment. They laughed and clapped as they saw the lions and other animals.

Silvio Zammit, one of the local circus organisers, insisted that the animals were not ill-treated and animal welfare officers carried out regular inspections.

He said these animals had been born in captivity and would not survive a day in the wild.

He and his business partner, Johann Said, were proud of what they were doing as they were importing legal entertainment for children and families and personally ensuring the animals were well treated.

A few weeks ago circus owner Massimo Orfei said the protesters had every right to protest but argued that unlike other acts, his animals were well treated. He invited the animal rights activists to visit the circus and see for themselves.