ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
Hundreds of animal rights activists in Mexico City on Saturday (May 26) protested over they consider the mistreatment of animals by the famed Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Ringling Brothers began performing in Mexico on May 23 and will continue until June 3.
According to the activists - part of a group called AnimaNaturalis Mexico - the circus includes nine elephants, 18 Bengal Tigers, five zebras and 24 horses.
The campaigner say violent methods are used in training the animals, including the use of whips, chains and electric shocks.
In a statement, AnimaNaturalis Mexico also alleged that activists had been threatened by security staff at Arena Ciudad de Mexico, where the circus is being held.
In November, the owner of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus agreed to pay a record $270,000 fine to settle charges that it violated federal animal welfare laws in the United States.
The US Department of Agriculture said the $270,000 fine was the biggest assessed under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
The allegations followed complaints from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals about abuse of elephants and tigers at the circus, including physical punishment.
