RSPCA furious after ban on wild animals in circuses refused

Monday, 16 May 2011 12:00 AM

The RSPCA is furious that the government has decided to ignore public opinion and not ban the use of wild animals in circuses in England after all.

Regardless of evidence that elephants, tigers and other animals are likely to suffer in a circus environment, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) today announced that it would allow this practice to continue.

The Society believes that plans to regulate the use of wild animals in circuses rather than ban them is simply not enough, and that the claim that the government is being held back by a challenge to the Austrian government ban is a complete red herring.

The RSPCA has been campaigning to make the use of wild animals in circuses illegal for many years and thinks that animals such as elephants, tigers and lions should not be subjected to the confinement, constant transportation and abnormal social groups associated with circus life - simply in the name of entertainment.

The public has made it very clear that it is behind this campaign. Of the nearly 13,000 people took part in a Defra consultation last year, a phenomenal 94 per cent of people said they wanted to see a complete ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.*

The outcry which followed the plight of Anne the elephant - the last elephant touring with a UK circus - is another clear indicator of how people feel.

Senior RSPCA scientist Dr Ros Clubb said: "We are furious that the government has done a complete u-turn on this issue.

"Introducing licensing conditions is not replacement for a ban - and it will create a huge amount of red tape which is completely disproportionate to the size of this tiny industry.

"Hiding behind a challenge to the Austrian government ban is a complete red herring as the European commission has said they are happy with bans on the use of wild animals in circuses in Member States.

"It seems incredible to us that they have come to such a decision despite so much evidence pointing to a ban being the right way forward, and such clear messages from the public about wanting a ban.

"The dithering on this issue has to stop - the days when it was acceptable to haul wild animals around to be gawped at and to entertain with unnatural tricks are long gone."

Evidence** shows that on average, circus animals spend just one to nine per cent of their time training and performing, and the rest confined to cages, wagons or typically small, inadequate enclosures. The most commonly used wild species, such as elephants, lions and tigers, are the least suited to circus life.

The UK already lags behind five countries which have already banned the practice of wild animals in circuses (Austria, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Israel and Singapore) and 13 others that place restrictions on the types of animals that can be used (eg Bulgaria, Portugal, Slovakia).

-ends-

Notes to editors

*The public consultation into the use of wild animals in circuses was commissioned and conducted by Defra. It launched on 21 December 2009, ran for a period of 12 weeks, and it closed on 15 March 2010. Full details can be found here: archive.defra.gov.uk

**Published in Animal Welfare vol. 18(2) pp129-140. Abstract available at: www.ingentaconnect.com. Other online reference: www.newscientist.com

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk

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