Animal Groups Condemn Circus Consultation Sham

PETA has issued a statement with several other animal protection groups to announce that none will be participating in Defra’s shamefully biased consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses. Animal Defenders International, Captive Animals Protection Society, Animal Aid, Four Paws and Born Free are all boycotting the consultation, which closes April 25.

Last month, many people were understandably misled by a government statement which declared that “wild animals will no longer be made to perform in travelling circuses” and that they would be looking to “introduce primary legislation at the earliest opportunity”. In fact, Defra is actually pressing ahead with plans for a licensing scheme, and unlike the previous consultation, this time it is made up of a set of questions which ensure there is no opportunity to object to licensing and support a ban.

Prime Minister David Cameron continues to try every trick in the book to avoid implementing a ban even though 94 per cent of respondents to the previous 2010 consultation wanted an end to cruel form of entertainment, and last year, the MPs Backbench Committee concluded with a unanimous vote to relegate wild animal circuses to the history books.

Please don’t let Cameron get away with ignoring the wish of the British public and election officials to end this shameful cruelty. Sign PETA’s action alert to let the government know that it can’t legislate animal cruelty and to ban the use of wild animals in circuses now.