Circus animal ban frustrates charity

Last week the government declared it would ‘introduce primary legislation at the earliest opportunity’ to bring a ban into force.

But campaigners at the Foundry Lane based Born Free Foundation who have been fighting to change the law for more than ten years say that while government intentions are now clear, the timing of this announcement was ‘frustrating’.

Will Travers, Born Free’s chief executive officer, said: “Leading animal groups decided to boycott a meeting with Defra representatives as recently as November 2011, when it became clear that anything to do with a ban was simply not on the table.

“Repeated requests for a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss a ban have been denied or repeatedly postponed; offers by Born Free and CAPS [Captive Animals’ Protective Society] to review government legal advice, which apparently indicated that a ban would be vulnerable to legal challenge, have been rejected; a ‘friendly’ Judicial Review process suggested by Born Free and CAPS aimed at assisting government address those legal obstacles was rejected in a letter from Lord Taylor dated February 1 2012.

“It’s been very frustrating but at least now the government’s intentions are clear.”

Controversy erupts locally every year when one of the UK’s last circuses to use wild animals arrives at Dial Post.

The Great British Circus features lions, tigers, camels and zebras, among others, and performs a number of shows at the West Sussex Showground, usually in June.

The impending visit always generates serious concern among campaigners and members of the public, who protest at the site next to the A24.

On Thursday March 1 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced: “The government will seek to introduce primary legislation at the earliest opportunity to achieve its much-stated desire to ban travelling circuses from using performing wild animals.”

In the meantime, owners of travelling circuses will be required to meet tough new licensing standards.

Officials says this will ensure high welfare conditions for wild animals - which will each be required to have a ‘retirement plan’.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Taylor said: “There is no place in today’s society for wild animals being used for our entertainment in travelling circuses. Wild animals deserve our respect.

“We have said many times we wanted to ban this outdated practice, but before we could do that there were serious legal issues we had to consider.

“We are developing proposals to introduce a Bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

“In the meantime we are introducing a Circus Licensing Scheme to ensure decent conditions for wild animals in travelling circuses.”

The campaigners at Born Free are now focusing on accelerating the process of bringing a ban into force.

Chris Draper, Born Free’s senior scientific animal welfare officer, added: “Together with other organisations we wish to see an accelerated process which will bring the curtain down on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses speedily and compassionately.

“In light of this, Born Free is writing to the minister seeking, once more, a meeting at which the details and implications of the proposed regulations, the ban and the possibilities for accelerating the legislative process need to be hammered out.

“The government needs to take a lead on this and, in the face of overwhelming public and parliamentary opinion, support and enforce an outright ban now.”

What are your thoughts on this? Should travelling circuses be banned from using wild animals?