THESE bear cubs will be making an appearance at tomorrow’s Enstone Show.

And organisers have said they are going ahead as normal despite London-based Animal Defenders International (ADI), an animal welfare group, demanding that the young bears should not appear at the show.

ADI Group president Jan Creamer said: “Using wild animals for entertainment may appear harmless, but it is certainly no fun for animals like bears who are highly intelligent and have very specialised needs.”

The European Brown Bear cubs are being supplied by Chipping Norton firm Amazing Animals, which trains animals for television and film and has provided circuses with animals.

Its owner Jim Clubb refuted ADI’s claims.

He said: “Our animals are under the veterinary care of International Zoo Veterinary and Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital, and our film vet is the former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

“He will be attending on Saturday.

“There will be three young bears who at no time [will be] touched or petted by members of the public.

“We have annually supplied young animals for this event to support our local community and resent being judged by radical groups like ADI.”

Animals including camels, reptiles, spiders and lions have previously appeared at the show.

One of the organisers of the show, Kate Farquhar-Thomson, said she had received more than 600 emails from ADI and they had felt harassed because of the communications.

She said: “Amazing Animals, who are bringing the bears along, are a perfectly professional company. We will be continuing with the event as normal.”

For more information about the show, held in the sports field, visit enstoneparish.org

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