Today, draft legislation was announced that would see it become an offence to use wild animals in travelling circuses in England from 2015.
 
ENDCAP members: the Born Free Foundation and the Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS) have worked consistently for an end to the use of wild animals in circuses since their inception. Representatives of the Born Free Foundation participated in the first Circus Working Group in the mid-1990s, and the second in 2004, but the message has remained the same throughout: a travelling circus simply cannot meet the needs of wild animals.
 
Will Travers OBE, the Born Free Foundation’s CEO, commented: “I hardly dared imagine we would see such a day when, year after year, meeting after meeting, the NGOs participating in the various Circus Working Groups churned through the evidence, debated the practicalities, fought against Defra’s institutional inertia and Government opposition to a ban. Our supporters have been amazing as have our colleagues in other organisations. One more form of wild animal exploitation is on its way out.”
 
Liz Tyson, Director of CAPS, thanked, “the unsung heroes here in our own office and those of our campaign partners who have worked tirelessly to ensure the campaign’s success. Working together, sharing skills and resources and ensuring that we were speaking with a united voice on this important issue. In this way we ensured that the support and donations of our members were put to the very best use and the campaign had the very best chance of success.”
 
Campaign partners have included the RSPCA, CAPS, British Veterinary Association (BVA), and the Born Free Foundation.
 
The news today from England has been welcomed by the ENDCAP membership. It is now hoped that enactment of similar legislation will follow in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, ensuring an end of the use of wild animals in circuses in the UK.
 
ENDCAP continues to call on all EU Member States to follow Austria, Croatia and now England’s lead to end to the use of wild animals in circuses.
 
More about animals in circuses