Assembly Member for Aberconwy, and Member of the Petitions Committee in the National Assembly for Wales, Janet Finch-Saunders, has called for a Plenary debate on banning the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales.
In November 2017, Ireland became the 20th EU member and 42nd country in the world to legislate against use of wild animals in circuses as of this month [Jan 2018], and in December 2017, Scotland became the first country in the UK to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.
Countries such as Bolivia and Bosnia, Paraguay and Peru, Costa Rica and Croatia - all have bans in place
Janet said:
“There is clearly much momentum both in public opinion and in the political sphere around the UK for such a ban to be introduced here in Wales.
“We know that travelling circus life does not provide the optimum conditions for wild animals to enjoy a good life, with enough opportunities to exercise and socialise.
“The recent laws in Scotland and Ireland really up the ante for such legislation to be introduced here in Wales, and it is disappointing that, to date, the Welsh Government have not yet committed to such a ban.
“I have called for a Plenary debate on this matter, to enable this to be put to a direct vote amongst all Assembly Members in the Chamber of the National Assembly for Wales.”
ENDS
Notes
A link to the meeting details and transcript is available here: http://senedd.assembly.wales/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=430&MId=4522&Ver=4
You can watch the Committee proceedings online at www.senedd.tv
A petition calling for such a ban was presented to the Petitions Committee on 23-01-2018.
A 2010 UK Government consultation found that 94% of the public supported a ban on wild animal acts.
The RSPCA notes that ‘travelling circus life is likely to have a harmful effect on animal welfare as captive animals are unable to socialise, get enough exercise or exhibit natural behaviours. Many animals develop behavioural and/or health problems as a direct result of the captive life that they are forced to lead.’
Despite draft legislation being brought forward by the UK Government in 2013, and two private members bill on the subject since – brought forward by Labour backbencher Jim Fitzpatrick MP and Conservative backbencher Kevin Foster MP – formal legislation has not yet been passed in Westminster.
Animal welfare in this area is a devolved matter, and so Wales has the opportunity to put its name alongside other nations around the world in banning the use of wild animals in circuses.
A recent report commissioned by the Welsh Government concluded that ‘Life for wild animals in travelling circuses...does not appear to constitute either a ‘good life’ or a ‘life worth living’. A consultation on Mobile Animal Exhibits found that the ‘majority’ of respondents ‘believed the use of wild animals in circuses should be banned and that wild animals cannot be cared for appropriately whilst in a travelling environment’.
We know that the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework 2017-18 Implementation Plan states that “Under the Wales Act 2017, there is now scope to consider the option of banning the use of wild animals in circuses.”
However, whilst the Cabinet Secretary has tasked officials with the development of a licensing scheme for Mobile Animal Exhibits, she has not yet committed to any legislation to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.