Meraas came under heavy criticism for hosting The Latino Circus at Last Exit Al Khawaneej Dubai.
Meraas came under heavy criticism for hosting The Latino Circus at Last Exit Al Khawaneej Dubai.

Platinumlist seeks to cut ties with Dubai circus following backlash over use of animals



One of the UAE’s largest ticket sellers is considering cutting ties with a circus show that features lions in the wake of bad publicity about the event.

Platinumlist.net told The National it is looking into "contract exit clauses with the organiser," following a request for a comment about its promotion of the show.

“We also feel that it is completely unethical and cruel to use animals in circus performances,” the company said in a statement.

The Latino Circus, which proudly boasts that it features "white lions direct from Africa", will be stationed at Last Exit D89 Al Khawaneej until December 21.

Ticket seller Platinumlist was one of several companies that attracted criticism about their involvement in the show.

However, news that it may now stop selling tickets for the event has been welcomed by protesters.

Samantha Robins, who posted about the circus on several Facebook groups to alert people about the event’s use of wild animals, said she would be “over the moon” if Platinumlist abandons its support of the event.

“It just shows you how social media can do good when it’s needed,” said Ms Robins, 33, from the UK.

“Wild animals are entirely different to domestic pets — you can’t make them sit by giving them a biscuit. They [the circus] break the animal's spirit through torture and abuse and they spend their lives transported from venue to venue in cages.”

She also said it is "ignorant" to assume animals are well cared for when circus goers cannot see how they are trained.

Animal rights groups agree, claiming circus animals are regularly subjected to excessive and abusive methods to force them to perform tricks.

"Elephants, tigers and other animals that circuses use to entertain audiences do not stand on their heads, jump through hoops, or balance on pedestals because they want to,” said global animal rights organisation Peta in a statement on its website regarding the use of wild animals in circuses.

“They perform these and other difficult tricks because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t."

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Read more:

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Teddy Aouad, exhibition manager of circus operator Eventoh, on Monday also sought to stress that the animals are kept in humane conditions."

"Our animals were born in captivity so no-way they will survive in the jungle," he said.

"Our animals are very well cared of. They get a visit from a veterinary every week. They have enough space to play, they are not transported in small cages at all and their containers are air conditioned 24 hours a day.

"And we train the animals to do tricks by giving them treats and not by beating them."

A spokesperson for Meraas, which runs Last Exit, and has faced criticism for hosting the event, said on Sunday that the circus meets international standards for the care of animals.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

The biog

Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi

Favourite TV show: That 70s Show

Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving

Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can

Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home

Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big

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The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates