Banned at last, wild animals in travelling circuses
MSPs vote to end cruelty
THE use of wild animals in travelling circuses will be banned in Scotland after MSPs unanimously backed legislation yesterday.
The Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill is the first of its kind in the UK and will prohibit the use of non-domesticated animals for performance or exhibition in travelling shows.
This means circuses passing through or touring Scotland will not be able to use elephants, lions, tigers or bears in performances.
However, this will not apply to static circuses or zoos, which means shows featuring birds of prey or sea lions, and penguin parades can continue.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the move would send a clear message to the world that Scotland does not condone the misuse of wild animals.
The legislation comes after the Daily Mail supported calls for an end to the abuse of wild animals in circuses and shows.
The Mail reported the story of Asian elephant Anne, who was beaten by her owners.
She was rescued and circus boss Bobby Roberts, from Northamptonshire, was convicted of animal cruelty.
The MSPs’ backing follows a survey which found 95 per cent of Scots were in favour of a ban.
Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International, said: ‘The public called for a ban and the Scottish Government and parliament listened, banishing travelling circuses with wild animals. Meanwhile, England continues to sit on its hands, and a Bill nearly five years old. No more delays, it’s time to stop circus suffering.’
Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said the legislation meant ‘we will finally truly be able to say Nellie the Elephant has packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus’.
He added: ‘It will ensure that shows and exhibitions that adhere to high standards will be able to continue operating while ensuring the exploitation of wild animals in travelling circuses is at an end.’
Labour MSP Claudia Beamish said she hoped static circuses would be subject to a similar ban.
Earlier this year Holyrood’s environment committee warned the legislation was ‘at risk of not fully addressing issues it has been proposed to cover, and capturing animal performances it had not intended to’.
However, MSPs yesterday said Government experts had worked to tighten the definition of the terms ‘circus’ and ‘wild animal’.
Miss Cunningham said: ‘This Act will demonstrate we are one of the growing number of countries that no longer condones the use of wild animals in this way.’
Libby Anderson, of animal protection charity One Kind, said: ‘Today’s historic announcement means never again will we have to see lions, tigers and elephants suffering in cramped trucks, being made to perform tricks purely for people’s entertainment.’
But Paul Archer, secretary of the UK Circus Proprietors Association, described the law as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘totally irrelevant’.
He said: ‘A travelling circus hasn’t visited Scotland for years. Surely Nicola Sturgeon has bigger things on her plate than this?’
Mr Archer said the Government’s consultation only attracted 2,400 responses from a population of five million and claimed that animals used in circuses in the UK are already subject to stringent animal welfare standards.
‘Exploitation is at an end’ Time running out for circuses that use wild animals Daily Mail, June 27, 2015