The WSPA charity is asking the government to change it’s mind and ban the use of wild animals in circuses around the UK. Wildlife charity officials were expecting the government to impose a similar ban to the one being currently upheld in Austria, but stopped short of a complete ban which is baffling. The WSPA has been campaigning for over 10 years to ban all animal entertainment in circuses, and now would be the perfect time to put a stop to this cruel practice.
SPA UK head of external affairs, Simon Pope, said –
The government’s current legal position is based on a case that hasn’t yet been made in an overseas court. We would like to see the UK make its own decisions and make it absolutely clear that there is no place for wild animals in circuses by banning the practice entirely.
The WSPA believe that only a comprehensive ban on wild animals in circuses across the country will ensure their security and welfare. The British government made a commitment to ban the use of wild animals in circuses almost 5 years ago, yet have still to implement the ban. With some 37 wild animals still in use around the country, circuses must now be stopped from using animals as a source of entertainment and allow these animals to treated better. Hopefully the UK government will follow up their promise from the Animal Welfare Act that was passed in 2006 and start to make a difference today.
