THERE are several problems with animals being used by circuses which make Circus Mondao's offer of viewing its premises irrelevant. They are the following:

First, much of distress that animals used by circuses suffer is due the length of time they are kept caged while travelling from one venue to another, and another, and another, and another. This would not seem to be something which can be said to be treating animals "very well", as Petra Jackson claims; but to the point, how could seeing the animals at the venue give any indication of what it's like to be stuck in the back of a truck day after day?

The second point is to ask what is the justification for carting these creatures around the country at all. Clearly profit is the only motive here, which, when put up against the discomfort and fear which the animals endure, is at least sad and at most greedy. One only has to ask how circus owners would like to be wrenched from their own environment and forced to go from place to place with no consideration of their needs, to see the truth. They may respond: "But they're only animals, so it's okay", laying bare how much part of the 'family' these tragic creatures actually are.

Thirdly, the argument which circuses often put forward, that it is educational to see animals in the circus, is misdirected. You can indeed learn – not much about a zebra or a camel which has been subjected to unnatural conditions – but a great deal about how selfish people can be to treat animals this way. So if we are to educate people about animals, why not do it by seeing them running free, happy, living a full life?

Let's get it straight. Modern circuses don't use any animals for 'entertainment' any more because they know better. Those which still do are sadly behind the times.

ALISON MOORE Lecturer in media, culture and communications, University of Lincoln.

Animals don't belong in a circus (Echo, May 6). The constant transportation from town to town for 10 months each year and confinement for long periods means that a travelling circus can never meet all of the needs of these animals, whether they be elephants, lions, tigers or horses.

Claims by circuses that animals are stimulated by performances are false. In fact, the same tricks are generally repeated for years.

There is no educational value in seeing these once proud animals reduced to performing tricks in an unnatural environment. Circuses teach a lack of respect for animals.

The Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS) is not opposed to circuses, only to the use of animals, and we encourage people to avoid animal circuses and instead visit one of the many excellent shows that rely entirely on human skills.

We also ask people to write to their MP, asking them to encourage the Government to ban the use of animals in circuses.

PAUL THOMAS Campaigns assistant, Captive Animals' Protection Society, Manchester.