Wales bans the use of wild animals in circuses
Environment — di Lorenzo Brenna
Also thanks to a drastic drop in audiences, the British nation has introduced a bill prohibiting the use of wild animals in circuses.
Wales bans the use of wild animals in circuses
Also thanks to a drastic drop in audiences, the British nation has introduced a bill prohibiting the use of wild animals in circuses.
It is clear that watching wild animals perform at the circus, in stressful and unnatural shows, is wrong and profoundly anachronistic. This type of "show", as the constant drop in audiences attests, no longer has any reason to exist — not only because circuses are unable to meet the minimum requirements for animal welfare (captivity causes animals detrimental restrictions to their cognitive, physical and normal social development), but also because of its miseducational function.
"The crucial issue is the profoundly miseducational and anthropocentric message conveyed by circuses with animals — an archaic and obsolete message of exploitation and humiliation that is now at odds (or should be) with our society," wrote science writer and communicator Lisa Signorile in a Facebook post. "What message has the circus transmitted? That at-risk megafauna can be turned into playthings. What purpose, then, does a circus serve in the modern social fabric? To transmit an old and inadequate message." Fortunately, more and more countries are banning the use of wild animals in circuses, and Wales is about to join them.
An unacceptable practice
Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs, has introduced a bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. "Animals should not be exploited for our entertainment," the Welsh politician declared. "This bill sends a clear message: the government and people of Wales believe that this practice is outdated and ethically unacceptable."
Read also: Circhi con animali, uno spettacolo che non può andare avanti
The matter goes to the National Assembly
The proposal will be put to the National Assembly for Wales on Monday 8 July, but its approval, also in light of a recent public consultation that highlighted popular support, appears to be only a matter of time. Under the new law, the keeping of wild animals in circus shows will become a criminal offence. Currently, two travelling British circuses that stop in Wales remain in operation.
What a great day! Here is our full video following the announcement today on banning wild animals in circuses #animalwelfare @WelshGovernment
A landmark day for animal welfare
"This is a memorable day for animal welfare in Wales," said Claire Lawson, head of communications at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Rspca), the animal welfare organisation operating in England and Wales. "We are absolutely delighted that the Welsh government has brought forward this bill: keeping wild animals in travelling circuses is an outdated practice that has no place in modern Wales. We now urge all political groups within the National Assembly to support the ban and ensure that this antiquated and cruel practice is consigned to the history books as soon as possible."
On the side of animals
The credit for the campaign's success, as mentioned, goes to the Welsh people, thousands of whom spoke out against the exploitation of wild animals in circuses. Around 9,000 people signed the petition launched by the Rspca calling for government action. In Italy too, the number of circus-goers is in constant decline, and the number of shows fell by 11 per cent between 2010 and 2015, according to the report I circhi in Italia, published by Censis (Centro studi investimenti sociali) in 2017. Watching animals in the grip of stress and stereotypies is no longer considered entertaining and, perhaps, we are about to leave behind another sad chapter in our troubled relationship with other animal species.