WSPA calls on government to ban animals in circuses

May 20, 2011

WSPA is today calling on the government to reverse its U-turn on banning wild animals in circuses.

The government stopped short of making the expected ban this week, mistakenly suggesting that there was a live legal challenge to a similar ban in Austria.

The Labour Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Mary Creagh stated that the Austrian embassy had confirmed to her that the case was closed in 2005. No further legal action has been filed.

Simon Pope, WSPA UK head of external affairs, said: “The government’s current legal position is based on a case that hasn’t yet been made in an overseas court. We would like to see the UK make its own decisions and make it absolutely clear that there is no place for wild animals in circuses by banning the practice entirely.”

The UK government made a commitment to ban the use of wild animals in circuses during the passage of the Animal Welfare Act in 2006 but has yet to implement the ban.

In the summer of 2009 there were 37 wild animals being used by circuses in the UK, which included elephants, tigers, lions, camels, zebras and crocodiles. There are now no longer any elephants kept in circuses in the UK.

Several countries have already announced partial or complete bans on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses such as India, Brazil and Bolivia.

Last year WSPA responded to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) public consultation on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, recommending a total ban.

WSPA strongly believes that only a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses can guarantee their welfare. We believe all animals should be provided with conditions in which they can live lives which meet the needs of their particular species.

How You Can Help

WSPA member society the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has been campaigning for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses for the past 10 years. Join their Big Stop campaign and help put an end to this outdated practice once and for all.

Please email your MP and ask them to forward your email to the Prime Minister urging him to:

• do the right thing
• listen to public opinion
• reconsider the decision to withdraw a proposed ban on the use of wild animals in circuses in England.