Circuses are no fun for animals!
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Take action: Circuses are no fun for animals...
The RSPCA believe that regulations proposed by the Westminster Government will do nothing to improve the welfare of wild animals in the circus.
Join our campaign to hold the Government to account on their promise to ban wild animals in circuses in England by 2015... TAKE ACTION HERE
Blog: If only Baby could 'say goodbye to the circus'...
The light-hearted, comedic coverage of Baby the elephant escaping from a circus in Ireland, may be amusing to some, but the suffering of circus animals is no laughing matter. More here...
Campaign background
We've been campaigning for an end to the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England and Wales for over a decade.
Travelling circus life is likely to have a very harmful effect on animal welfare. Regular transport, cramped and bare temporary housing, forced training and performance, loud noises and crowds of people are all typical and unavoidable realities for the animals.
Successive polls consistently show the public are against the use of wild animals in circuses and in 2009 a Defra consultation showed that over 94 per cent of respondents supported a total ban.
Not only can the complex needs of wild animals never be adequately met in a circus environment, but research has shown that showing animals in such a derogatory light (for example balancing on balls or jumping through hoops) leads the public to wrongly assume that these animals are not threatened or endangered in the wild and confuses people as to the welfare needs of wild animals in captivity.
The debate surrounding wild animals in circuses surfaced again in May 2011 when Anne, an elderly arthritic elephant and the UKs last remaining elephant in the circus, was secretly filmed allegedly being beaten by a keeper. The incident sparked outrage among the government and MPs alike and soon after backbench MPs called for a debate in the House of Commons to call on the government to introduce a ban under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
But aren't wild animals in circuses banned?
In March 2012 the government in Westminster announced a phase-in ban on wild animals in circuses in England with a lisencing scheme to be impilimented in the interim. However, the RSPCA have serious concerns as the government have yet to make a firm commitment to a deadline for a ban and the documents outlining the proposals are peppered with inconsistencies and contraditctions.
What can I do to help?
Click the button below to take action, ask if the government will keep their promise to end circus suffering by 2015 as promised!
More information:
- You can read a report the state of UK circuses with wild animals here.
- Information on our circus campaign in Wales.
