A CIRCUS boss has claimed there is ‘prejudice’ against the use of performing animals after the Government hinted it was set to ban them.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has said she is “minded” to outlaw the use of elephants, tigers, lions and other exotic creatures in travelling shows under a policy that has the support of the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Pressure has been mounting after an elderly circus elephant with arthritis was filmed by an animal rights group being abused by her groom.

The moves comes after a Government consultation last year saw 95.5% of those responding say they did not think there was any species of wild animal that could acceptably be used in circuses.

But as Circus Mondao, one of the few remaining circuses to use animals, pitches up in Mirfield to run between tomorrow and Sunday, spokeswoman Petra Jackson said there was a “blinkered” attitude to their show.

The circus uses horses, zebras, camels and dogs and Ms Jackson said they could be hit by the ban.

She said: “Unfortunately it could affect us as our zebras and camels are classed as wild animals even though they’re not likely to eat you.

“They’re stabled, they’re not kept in cages or chained up like an elephant would be.

“Our animals are part of our family, they’ve been with us for a very long time and it would be very upsetting if we had to re-home them.

“People are very blinkered about the circus; animal campaign groups have all the money in the world to campaign against the circus.

“They squeeze money out of the public who think they are rescuing animals, but actually it just pays their way.

“People come to our circus and see for themselves that our animals are well cared for and we get loads of compliments.”

Ms Jackson said their show was no different to dog agility or showjumping events and said it was a vital resource for educating city dwellers about animals.

She said: “We’re horse people, our expertise is in horses, it’s no different.

“The horses pull carts around, that’s done all day long all over the world.

“We’ve got two performing dogs who do dog agility, people do that all the time at Crufts. It’s okay at Crufts but wrong at the circus – it’s very prejudiced.

“Children don’t get to see animals anymore but at our show they can get up close and stroke a Zebra.

“People also get the opportunity to ride a camel in their home town, whereas normally you’d have to go to Egypt.”

Ms Jackson said while they were worried about the impact of any ban they couldn’t do much about it.

She added: “We haven’t got the money, resources or the time to fight our case.

“We’re more interested in looking after our animals than sitting in an office writing letters to newspapers and TV stations.

“We’ve been working with Defra for a long time but recently it’s gone very quiet.”

A consultation with animal welfare groups and industry representatives concluded last year and last month Jim Paice, the animal welfare minister, told the House of Commons that a policy on animals in circuses was “very close to completion”.

He said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs must work out the potential impact on the film and theatre industry before a policy can be announced.