It was announced this week that a new bill to ban the inclusion of wild animals in travelling circuses will be put before the English parliament for voting into law.
The bill, called the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill, would stop travelling circuses in England from using wild animals in performances.
According to the BBC, ‘Wild animals are defined [legally] as animals that are not normally domesticated in Great Britain and would not naturally be found here.
‘Although this ban only applies to wild animals, other domestic animals – such as horses, donkeys and dogs – will continue to be inspected regularly by officials.’
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At the beginning of 2018, a commitment was made to introduce the ban by 2020 to coincide with the expiry of existing interim licensing regulations.
According to PETA UK, there are nine European Union member states that have banned the practice. Ireland and Scotland have followed suit and Wales is currently consulting on the matter.
The bill was introduced by the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, who said he is glad the bill will put an end to the practice for good, and that wild animals have no place in travelling circuses.
‘Today’s announcement follows other measures we have taken to strengthen our position as a world leader on animal protection. This includes our ban on ivory sales to protect elephants, and delivering Finn’s Law to strengthen the protection of service animals,’ he added.
Animal Welfare Minister David Rutley said, ‘The general public can still enjoy a trip to the circus, but it is good to know that wild animals will no longer be a part of that experience.’
Many animal welfare charities in the UK have welcomed the news after years of campaigning against the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.
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‘They [wild animals] have complex needs that cannot be properly met in a circus environment. It’s high time keeping wild animals in circuses is consigned to the history books and we look forward to the day that it is banned for good in England,’ said the Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, David Bowles.
‘We are delighted to see this coming into law following a long and sustained campaign and a huge groundswell of public support. While this issue may not affect a great number of individual animals, a ban is emblematic of how we should be treating animals in the modern world,’ said British Veterinary Association President Simon Doherty.
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PETA UK explains it believes wild animals do not belong in circuses: ‘Forcing wild animals such as zebras, raccoons, macaws, and camels to perform confusing tricks is a barbaric practice that has no place in a compassionate society.
‘Wild animals used in travelling circuses are carted from one venue to another in cramped cages and barren trailers and are taught to perform tricks through fear of punishment.’
Feature image: Eric Tompkins/ Unsplash.
