Animal welfare groups have expressed outrage at the decision of the Minister of the Environment to allow an animal show bringing in tigers and bears from overseas to take place in Bermuda.

Permission for the show was granted in principle on Tuesday and Minister Neletha Butterfield said yesterday that she received 25 emails and letters from people protesting the show but had not received anything from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Yesterday, the SPCA flatly denied that assertion, however.

Shelter Manager Teresa Ince said the group hand delivered two letters protesting the event to the Ministry dated March 4 and May 4.

She said the letters were also copied to several Government officials.

Ms Ince said the SPCA is very disappointed with the Minister?s decision and would continue to monitor the situation. The Ministry did not respond to questions about the statement yesterday.

In granting permission for the show, the Minister said that she took into consideration concerns voiced by animal welfare groups and individuals but that they contained generalisations and lacked specific evidence that the exhibitors had violated any laws.

She added that the exhibitors are licensed by the US Department of Agriculture and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and had no citations against them.

However, a circus watch group lists a February 10, 1999 citation against exhibitor Kay Rosaire. The citation was for failure to provide veterinary care. The inspector noted that lion cubs in her care were in poor condition and their cages did not meet size requirements. The Ministry of Environment failed to respond to questions about this citation yesterday.

British animal welfare group Captive Animals? Protection Society echoed Ms Ince?s statements and said they too were disappointed with the Minister?s decision.

?What is particularly disappointing is that no one in Government has responded to any of our detailed concerns about the welfare of these animals during transport or confinement while on the Island, or our concerns about contingency plans to deal with animal escapes or injuries to people,? campaign manager Craig Redmond said.

?CAPS became involved in opposing this circus after receiving emails from Bermudians asking for our help.

?It is clear that many residents are deeply distressed at seeing bears and tigers being shipped to the Island simply to perform. We will continue to work with residents to ensure that the Government takes notice of public concern and does not ignore the plight of captive wildlife again.?

Another international animal welfare advocate, Carole Baskin, was angered that Bermuda allowed such events to take place. Ms Baskin is the CEO of one of the world?s largest accredited sanctuaries, Big Cat Rescue.

?I am dismayed that your Ministry of the Environment has acted with such a total lack of concern for the citizens or compassion for the animals,? Ms Baskin said. ?The person in charge is obviously not very enlightened.?

She noted that polls in the US show 90 percent of people are opposed to big cats being used in shows.

?I believe this is why these little side shows are taking their barbaric practices outside of the US,? she said.

?It isn?t wanted here so they are shipping it anywhere that will have them and Bermuda has set a bad example by saying, ?We will host activities that the rest of the modern world has come to abhor?. The UK banned circuses last year that have big cats and so did India, even prior to that.?

The head big cat keeper at the sanctuary, Julie Hanan, added that it was disappointing that the decision was made because the group coming, Big Cat Habitat, met minimum requirements.

?How sad that Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield only considered evidence of violations rather than the knowledge that, although something may be legal, it does not necessarily make it right,? she said.

?It is unfortunate that Bermuda chose solely to look at whether minimal guidelines are being met, such as space large enough for an animal to stand up and turn around in, rather than being a more forward thinking country.?

The show?s organiser, Ray Hollis of DNA Entertainment, said despite the ongoing protests over the animal show, ticket sales have not been adversely affected.

He has even organised an extra show to accommodate everyone interested in the event.