Government Report Fails Animals in Circuses CAPS, together with other animal protection organisations, have recently written to the DEFRA minister, Hilary Benn, asking for a meeting to discuss the use of performing animals in circuses, following the recent DEFRA sponsored report. Click here to read a copy of the letter.
Original article from November 2007 The Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) has expressed its concern at a government report which suggests there are no scientific grounds for banning the use of animals in circuses. The report, based on the DEFRA Circus Working Group, found that there was insufficient scientific evidence to conclude that circuses could or could not meet the needs of animals and that any future bans would be a political, rather than scientific, decision. However, Secretary of State for Environment, Hilary Benn commented: "We will consider the report's findings carefully. I fully acknowledge that there is a strong body of opinion, both in Parliament and amongst the wider public, in favour of a ban. The Government will now want to hear reactions to the report and consider its position." CAPS campaigns for a ban on the use of all animals in circuses and expressed concern that the balance was weighed against animal welfare. The government insisted that it could only ban animal acts if there was scientific evidence that cruelty was inherent. CAPS believes that the burden of proof should be on circuses to prove that they are not cruel. Amazingly the working group did not even look at the training of animals, despite this being an area where cruelty often takes place. CAPS commented: The cruelty of transporting animals all over the country, training them to perform unnatural tricks, keeping them on lorries or chained up, is obvious. That’s why most people prefer to visit only all-human shows, the majority of UK circuses no longer use animals and over 200 councils have banned animal acts from their land.” “The sensible approach would have been to require circuses to prove that they can meet the needs of animals. Clearly, circuses are unable to do so.” Regulation of animal circuses through registration and codes of practice will do nothing to secure animal welfare. It makes a mockery of the whole new Animal Welfare Act if the government fail to ban animal use in circuses. CAPS is confident that the public will continue to support only the all-human shows and that animal circuses will become a thing of the past. WHAT YOU CAN DO
Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society |
