The number of circuses touring with wild animal acts in Britain has declined significantly in recent years, from 20 in 1997 to three as of December 2011.

Among them, the three circuses are thought to use in the region of 40 wild animals, including lions, tigers, zebras, camels and various reptiles.

The last elephant to perform in a British circus, Anne, was retired to a safari park in 2010. The owners of the circus from which she came have been charged, by the Crown Prosecution Service, with causing her unnecessary suffering. The trail is set for June 2012.

Although the 2006 Animal Welfare Act covers circus animals, it is recognised that there is need for specific legislation to provide them with greater protection. A ban has the support of the public, animal welfare groups and parliament.

The British Veterninary Association (BVA) is also supportive of a move to end the use of wild animals in circuses, stating: “The welfare needs of non-domesticated, wild animals cannot be met within the environment of a travelling circus; especially in terms of accommodation and the ability to express normal behaviour.”

Protection for current and future animals

As well as protecting the animals currently involved, a ban on wild animals in circuses would also prevent more wild animals being introduced by circuses in future years.

Legislation in other countries

Public and political support for ending the use of wild animals in circuses is not new. Bans have already been successfully implemented in several countries around the world, including Austria, Croatia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Israel and Singapore.

In 2009 Bolivia banned the use of wild and domestic animals in circuses and the law is already being implemented. Similar legislation has been passed in Peru, and is working its way through the Brazilian and Chilean Congresses. In Germany, the government’s second chamber has recommended that a ban be introduced, and in early 2011 China announced a ban on the use of animals in all 300 state-owned circuses.

UK public support

In the UK, 94.5 percent of responses to a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) public consultation carried out early in 2010 were in favour of a ban on wild animals in circuses.

Polls regularly show that the majority of the UK citizens are supportive of such a measure, and a number of local authorities do not allow circuses to stage such shows on land under their control.

There is also widespread political support for a ban.

HSI UK, alongside a number of like-minded organisations including Born Free, the Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and Care for the Wild International, is calling on the UK government to implement legislation to ban the use of wild animals in circuses in England once and for all.