Wales to Ban Wild-Animal Circuses From 1 December 2020
PETA is thrilled that the Welsh Parliament has finally passed a law banning the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. The ban will come into force on 1 December 2020. This is a big win for animals!
Wales will soon join England, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, and dozens of other nations around the world in outlawing wild-animal circuses.
“This Bill will address the ethical concerns of people across Wales by banning the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. The use of wild animals for entertainment in this way is outdated. Wild animals are sentient beings with complex needs, and they should not be seen as commodities for our entertainment.”
– Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs
PETA Supporters Helped Make It Happen
The bill was introduced in 2019 following a public consultation in which 97% of respondents, who included PETA supporters, supported banning wild-animal circuses. A PETA representative also spoke at the Welsh Parliament to give evidence in support of the bill, and thousands of PETA supporters e-mailed then–Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove to urge him to ban these cruel spectacles.
What About Northern Ireland?
The Northern Ireland Assembly previously suggested that it would follow the lead of the Republic of Ireland with regard to circus legislation. But since the Assembly collapsed in January 2017, no progress has been made for animals in circuses.
What’s Wrong With Wild-Animal Circuses?
Wild-animal circuses are an archaic and patently inhumane form of animal exploitation. Captivity is a living hell for animals such as tigers, zebras, and lions, and a circus environment can’t possibly meet their complex needs.
They understandably become frustrated, stressed, and depressed from a lifetime of being denied everything that’s natural and important to them. They’re kept caged in trailers that are hauled around the country, and they’re forced to perform confusing tricks under the big top out of some Victorian-era idea of entertainment.
What You Can Do for Animals in Captivity
Never, ever attend a wild-animal circus or any other exhibit that exploits animals for entertainment. Instead, opt for animal-free family activities.
All wild animals suffer in captivity. Please speak out for dolphins forced to live in watery prisons and entertain humans by urging TUI to stop selling tickets to SeaWorld:
