Despite amazing efforts on the part of our supporters, celebrities and other NGOs*, and despite overwhelming public and Parliamentary support for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses in England, the government now looks poised to introduce a licensing and regulation system, rather than the ban that is so desperately needed. Ministers have stated this licensing regime is an ‘interim measure’, and they are ‘committed to an eventual ban’, but we remain unconvinced of their sincerity. In our opinion, the current government has repeatedly tried to derail progress towards a ban, claiming ‘legal obstacles’ of which we have seen little or no evidence.
And now the government have issued a public consultation on a system of regulations and standards for the use of wild animals in circuses. We believe the proposed system is, at best, ineffective, and will do nothing to guarantee the welfare of wild animals in circuses. In brief, it is overly reliant on infrequent, announced inspections by veterinarians rather than animal welfare experts; it proposes standards that are almost entirely invalidated by science or practice; it would establish a ‘two-tier’ system where wild animals such as elephants are offered a better standard of welfare in zoos than in circuses.
There are many, many problems with the proposals. In fact, they are so wide of the mark, and at odds with the ‘tough’ and ‘strict’ regime Ministers have promised, that Born Free has united with its partner NGOs in taking the difficult decision to boycott the consultation altogether. We simply cannot participate in a process that will prolong and potentially legitimise the use of wild animals in circuses in England, particularly while the possibility of a ban is so close.
We will continue to push resolutely for a ban in England, and we are calling on the government and the leaders of all political parties to make good on the promise of a ban as an absolute priority.
The situation in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is not currently clear. These countries are free to make their own decisions and legislation on wild animals in circuses. We hope they will not be swayed by the illconceived proposals in England and make a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses a reality – fast! http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-check/circuses-performing-animals/uk-circuses/
Good News for Wild Animals In UK Circuses? - Dec 11
Austrian Decision Forces UK Government’s Hand on Future Use of Wild Animals in Circuses
22nd December 2011 A landmark judgement by the Austrian Constitutional Court in Vienna (21st December 2011) to reject a challenge by Germany’s Circus Krone to Austria’s decision to ban the use of wild animals in circuses could, at last, bring an end to this controversial and widely-rejected form of animal exploitation in England.
The British Government have, for the last year or more, claimed that fear of a legal challenge to any ban (under the European Convention on Human Rights or the EC Services Directive) has prevented the swift introduction of a ban by Westminster, despite overwhelming Parliamentary and public support for such a measure.
Referring to ‘legal obstacles’ and the ‘The Austrian case’, Defra Ministers have been advised, instead, to pursue a complicated and, in the view of many wildlife professionals (including the Born Free Foundation, The Captive Animals’ Protection Society, The RSPCA, the British Veterinary Association and others), unworkable licensing system.
However, the ruling by the Constitutional Court in Austria changes all that.
“I can see no reason now why DEFRA should persist with a licensing regime when the legal obstacles they feared have been blown away” said Will Travers CEO of the Born Free Foundation.
Born Free, CAPS, the RSPCA and the other groups have consistently maintained that the regime of circus life - involving the frequent haulage of wild animals from venue to venue, training and performance - cannot guarantee the necessary welfare standards for the wild animals involved.
Born Free Trustee, Jenny Seagrove, said: “Surely now the government will put in place what over 90% of the country wants and change the law to end the use of wild animals in circuses.”
The Foundation’s founder, Virginia McKenna OBE, stated: “What can now prevent our government from doing the right thing? The suffering of one creature is one too many and a ban would be humane, just and the right decision.”
Joanna Lumley, Born Free’s Founder Patron, called for government action to be swift and decisive: “The whole idea of setting up regulations was always a nonsense and now, with the way cleared for an outright ban, we all expect measures to be taken by the government as a matter of urgency to ensure that no wild animals will be compelled, once more, to ‘take to the road’ when the circus season starts again in 2012.”
Born Free, CAPS, the RSPCA and others will urgently be seeking clarification and assurances from Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman MP, confirming that the government’s New Year’s Resolution will be move with all speed to bring the curtain down on the use of wild animals in circuses.
See below for some of the history of the debate.
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