Rabbit owners hop it after record bid row

Las Vegas act Jarrett and Raja had appealed to rabbit owners in Edinburgh to bring their pets along to take part in the attempt.

The stunt was part of the promotion for their Fringe show, and was to be held at the Assembly Rooms, George Street.

But after hearing the concerns of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) they reluctantly turned hopeful rabbit owners away.

"It is a shame, because a lot of people came along and we had to say we couldn’t use their rabbits," said magician Jarrett Parker.

"We would never hurt any animal and all of the rabbits who took part today were very well cared for.

"The rabbits we used include my own pet, Elvis. He actually bit me, so I was the only one that got hurt!

"Elvis loves his showbiz life - he even has his own dressing room."

The pair have more than 100 of their own rabbits which they use on stage, but had advertised in the Evening News for local pet owners to bring their bunnies along to be part of the act.

Doreen Graham, spokeswoman for the SSPCA, said they had been concerned not only for the welfare of the animals but the possible threat of disease.

"We saw the advert and we were obviously concerned, as it could be very distressing for a rabbit," she said.

"I think around 65 people turned up, and even though the animals weren’t used in the act, there is some concern over the stress they would be put through just making the trip on a hot day to this busy venue.

"There is also a worry about vaccinations as if just one rabbit has myxomatosis or does not have the correct vaccinations, with all these rabbits intermingling there could have been an epidemic.

"Obviously we are pleased the performers decided not to go ahead with the stunt, but I really just feel they should not have advertised for pets anyway. If an animal is trained to do these tricks it is not really so worrying, although a rabbit should never be pulled up by its ears."

Lynda Korimboccus, Scottish campaigns manager for Advocates for Animals, said they had also complained to the council about the show. "We were concerned that children were being encouraged to exploit their own animals just to promote a show and make money," she said.

A council spokeswoman confirmed it sent an inspector to the performance yesterday but said they had seen no breach of the venue’s licence and had been happy with the performance.

Master illusionist Jarrett Parker has worked with Bill Cosby and with Michael Jackson on an ad for Pepsi. His shows are reminiscent of Harry Houdini and the golden age of escapology.

His partner Raja Rahman, from Canada, is a fully fledged concert pianist.

The duo were inspired to stage the stunt in honour of the Great Lafayette - a Scottish magician who died in 1911 during a performance in Edinburgh, when the Empire Theatre caught fire.

A spokeswoman for the pair confirmed that they had told numerous people who had brought out their rabbits that the attempt had been called off.

The flamboyant duo still went ahead with their short preview act, the finale of which saw 100 rabbits, which they had brought from a dealer in Oxfordshire, appear from all corners of the stage.

No rabbits were pulled from a hat by their ears during the show.

Kath Mainland, general manager of the Assembly Rooms, said: "The Assembly Rooms were aware that the performance of Jarrett and Raja featured a live rabbit.

"The management of the Assembly Rooms had also approved the use of a rabbit in the production.

"At today’s press launch a number of rabbits appeared on stage as part of the finale. The rabbits on stage were in excess of what had previously been arranged with the Assembly.

"There will only be one rabbit used in the pair’s main show and we are happy with that arrangement."