In the fight to rescue Annie the elephant, whose horrendous abuse and suffering was exposed by Animal Defenders International (ADI) over the weekend, and to pursue a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, ADI representatives, Brian Blessed and politicians representing the main political parties took their ‘Stop Circus Suffering’ campaign directly to 10 Downing Street today.They presented a giant postcard to the Prime Minister, urging him to become involved and help bring about a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.Neil Parish MP, Chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare and Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton said: “The shocking footage of Annie the Elephant being repeatedly beaten by her keepers, and the mistreatment of other animals in the care of Bobby Roberts Super Circus, makes it very clear that self regulation of the industry is not an option. “What is more disturbing about this new footage is that it is not an isolated case. Animal Defenders International has already catalogued systemic animal welfare abuses in the circus industry.“The Animal Defenders International investigation has brought to light flawed animal husbandry and the prolonged abuse of wild animals kept by the circus. Annie is kept in cramped conditions for weeks at a time and is chained to the floor despite suffering from arthritis in her back leg. The plight of Annie the Elephant should serve as a wakeup call to the Government that there is a systemic problem of violence against animals in circuses and that the only way to protect them is an all out ban. “I hope that the Prime Minister will listen to the call made by the compassionate majority who want to see a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.”Actor and author Brian Blessed, one of ADI’s most vocal and prominent supporters said: “The abuse suffered by this elephant by those that claim to care for her is outrageous. I am here today to make my feelings known to politicians and whoever else will listen to bring this appalling suffering to an end.It really is time for the government to do the right thing for these circus animals and finally implement a ban. We have been sitting on the fence for far too long, the suffering is terrible as clearly evidenced in this disgraceful video. It is unbelievable that wild animal circuses still exist in the UK and now is the time for the government to legislate and put a stop, once and for all, to the draconian and humiliating spectacle of wild animals in circuses.”Jan Creamer, ADI’s Chief Executive said: “To Government we say, the time is now to enact a ban. This campaign is about rescuing Annie, and also the scores of other wild animals currently languishing in UK Circuses. Let’s make Annie’s plight symbolic of a wild animal ban for circuses, let’s ensure she hasn’t suffered in vain.This activity follows the weekend release of ADI’s shocking footage obtained from behind the scenes at the UK’s Bobby Roberts Super Circus which showed a staggeringly high level of violence and serious animal husbandry flaws. ADI secured footage over a three and a half week period from a camera observing activity in a barn where the animals are kept when not touring, and incidents included Annie (Anne), an elderly, severely arthritic 57 year old elephant being hit with a metal pitchfork and kicked around the face and body 48 times over the period of observation by workers, who are also seen beating and spitting on a camel and beating miniature ponies and horses on numerous occasions.The disturbing footage also shows Annie constantly chained for the entire period of filming by her front and arthritic back leg with only enough room to take one step forward or backwards. Her chains were only changed to different legs twice, The condemning video evidence can be viewed at: www.ad-international.org.Government’s own public consultation in March 2010 found that an overwhelming 94.5% of the public want to see a ban on wild animals in circuses and Neil Parish, along with over 170 MPs have now signed Early Day Motion 403 calling on the Government to ban wild animal acts. A recent parliamentary poll found that 63% of MPs would like to see a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and only 14% disagreed.