Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

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action to ban the use of wild animals in circuses

We need your help.  Please support our campaign to end the outdated practice of using wild animals in circuses by writing a letter to Hilary Benn MP. 

There are just 42 wild animals currently used in circuses in the UK – but this includes lions, tigers, zebras, even an elephant.  The reaction of the British public to an elderly circus elephant with arthritis kept in a tent without others of her kind, and big cats housed in beastwagons, transported from venue to venue and performing up and down the land, has been loud and clear. 

Overwhelming public opinion is in favour of a ban on their use.  A poll by MORI in 2005 found 80% of the public thought that the use of wild animals in circuses was not acceptable.

Surely Government must listen to the people.

In 2005, the Government, through Defra¹, brought together a Circus Working Group (CWG) which included Born Free and the RSPCA², as well as representatives from the circus industry.  Members were asked to submit evidence relating to the husbandry and transport of wild animals in circuses to an academic panel, assembled to review the welfare of wild animals in circuses.  The panel concluded there was insufficient scientific evidence to support a ban on wild animals in circuses, a view shared by the Chairman of the CWG.

However, Born Free profoundly disagrees with this view, pointing out that

• Defra was advised before the process started that little objective scientific research on wild animals in circuses exists
• The remit of the CWG imposed by Defra specifically excluded consideration of training or performance, despite these being fundamental to the circus environment
• The CWG was advised by Defra that the consideration of extensive filmed footage of the life endured by wild animals in circuses would not be considered evidence and as such would be deemed inadmissible.
• During discussions of the Standing Committee considering the then Animal Welfare Bill, all MPs who spoke, except the then Minister, Ben Bradshaw MP, supported an end to the use of wild animals in circuses.
• It seems illogical, inconsistent and irrational for a tiger in a zoo to be afforded significantly higher degree of animal welfare than a tiger in a circus.  Therefore it is logical and appropriate that there should be ‘read-across’ from existing zoo legislation and scientific research to ensure welfare consistency for captive wild animals whether they are held in a zoo or a circus

By limiting the remit of the CWG in this extraordinary way, by ignoring important information, and by refusing to consider proper welfare requirements for the same species in different circumstances, it seems the process was purposely designed to fail.

However, it is far from over.  Wild animals are banned in circuses in Austria, Croatia, Israel, Costa Rica and Singapore.  It is our hope the UK will follow a similar path.

A ban on the use of wild animals in circuses is possible, practical and the only effective and proportionate measure to deal with this issue.  Re-homing 42 wild animals would be extremely challenging, but not impossible.

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn MP, has already acknowledged there is a strong body of opinion in favour of a ban.

It is time to bring the curtain down on the use of wild animal in circuses.  It is time for the British Government to listen to the British people.  It is a matter of leadership.  Nothing less than a ban will do.

We are calling on you to help us achieve the only sensible and compassionate conclusion – a ban on all wild animals in circuses.  You can do this by writing a letter to Hilary Benn MP:

Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

You can find out how to contact Hilary Benn here.

Please politely express your concern for the animals still used in circuses and your support for a ban.  Please to ask Hilary Benn and the Government to do the right thing.

Thank you.

¹Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
²Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals