Animal Defenders International (ADI) is celebrating the Scottish Government’s announcement that they will introduce legislation to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in May 2017. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon first outlined her plans to introduce a Wild Animals in Circuses Bill in Scottish Parliament in September, and Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced the plans today.

The new Bill will:
• Ban the use (performance and exhibition) of such animals in travelling circuses on ethical grounds on the basis that this practice is morally objectionable to a large proportion of Scottish society
• Put in place enforcement provisions and sanctions for non-compliance with the ban

Jan Creamer, President of Animal Defenders International, said: “We are delighted that Scottish Government has pressed ahead with a ban to end circus suffering. Circuses are no place for wild animals and the public in Scotland, England and Wales overwhelmingly support a ban on such acts. We hope to see Westminster do the same.”

Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham, “Scotland is a nation of animal lovers and we take the welfare of our pets, animals and livestock very seriously. We will (…)ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, which is widely considered to be morally unacceptable in the present day, and undertake a full review of penalties under existing animal health and welfare legislation. I believe this package of measures will improve the protection given to the welfare of animals in Scotland over the coming months and years.”

The Bill follows a Scottish Parliament public consultation two years ago. The results revealed a huge distaste for such acts amongst the public, with 98% of Scots backing a ban.

Scottish actress Annette Crosbie highlighted the terrible price paid by animals in circuses, describing the performances as ‘’Victorian” and “endangers and degrades helpless animals.”

Years of ADI investigations in the UK and around the world have exposed the inevitable suffering of animals made to perform and tour with circuses. Given the constant travel and their temporary nature, circuses cannot provide animals with adequate facilities to keep them physically or psychologically healthy. Welfare is always compromised.

32 countries around the world have introduced prohibitions on animals in circuses to date, with England and Wales promising to ban wild animal acts.

A summary of the parliamentary debate will be available tomorrow morning.

Please visit www.ad-international.org/donate to help ADI stop circus suffering.