Tarzan Zerbini Circus draws adults, children and protesters

The Tarzan Zerbini Circus brought its big tents to the parking lot of the former Big Lots/Atwood’s Store at 1899 S. Madison this weekend. A portion of their gate admission went to help the Special Olympics.

A good time was had by almost all. Protesters with Animal Defenders International were there to ask  the community to stay away from the circus.

Animal rights activist August Elliott Wyllt says the animal acts look fun but for the animals, they’re not nice places at all.

“The animals that are used in these performances are completely abused and exploited without proper care,” Wyllt said. “They try to just purport this is just a place of entertainment but, behind the scenes, it’s a place of cruelty and suffering to these animals.”

“These inhumane, unsafe acts perpetuate misconceptions which exacerbate wildlife trafficking,” Christina Scaringe, ADI General Counsel, stated in a prepared statement.

It was the circus’s first big performance since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in full force.

The nationally-known Tarzan Zerbini Circus is based in Webb City.