Vets welcome Government pledge to ban wild animals in circuses in England

In its five-year review of The Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012, the Government has committed to introducing legislation banning the use of wild animals in circuses by the time the regulations expire on 19 January 2020. 

This is an issue that the BVA has long campaigned for, with pressure mounting after legislation was passed in Scotland in December 2017. The legislation making it an offence for a circus operator to cause or permit a wild animal to be used in a travelling circus in Scotland will come into force later this year.

BVA President John Fishwick said:

“While only a small number of animals will be directly affected, this ban goes to the heart of how we think about and treat animals in the world today. The use of wild animals in circuses is emblematic of the way we treat animals and we welcome the Government’s commitment to provide imminent legislation to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England.”

“Scotland has shown the rest of the UK the way in acting meaningfully through legislation to end animal suffering and improve the welfare of these animals. Now that we have a commitment to similar legislation for England we will be urging the remaining UK governments to follow their lead.”