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David Cameron: Ban wild & exotic animals used for entertainment in circuses
Jane A.
started this petition to
David Cameron & Nick Clegg
May 2015: Thank you to everyone who is continuing to sign and share. Each signature represents a voice for change and it's really appreciated you took the time to have your say! It is unacceptable and unethical to force wild animals to perform degrading tricks in travelling circuses and we want a change to the law. please keep signing and sharing and urging more to sign the petition which will be delivered to Prime Minister David Cameron.
In March 2012, the UK government made a commitment to ban all wild animals from travelling circuses in England. An overwhelming majority of MPs support a blanket ban, as do the general public. The window of opportunity for the government to pass the law and make good its promise within this session of parliament is scheduled to be dissolved in March 2015.
Until the law is passed, current legislation allows circuses to use wild animals for entertainment although they must have Dangerous Wild Animals License. Until the law is passed, the UK has fallen behind 28 other countries who already have national restrictions in place.
There is compelling evidence that captive animals used for entertainment suffer both psychological and physical stress caused by their environments and constant performances as well as premature death. Captive animals regularly exhibit repetitive behaviours such as swaying, head bobbing, swinging, pacing, biting, over grooming and aggression, all signs of stress and lack of stimulation. The tricks animals are forced to undertake are not indicative of the natural behaviour exhibited by those seen in the wild. Performances are confusing, uncomfortable, repetitive and painful, often leading to crippling and debilitating injuries. Loud noises and huge rowdy crowds cause immense stress whilst excessive exposure to bright lights can cause eye sight problems that can and does lead to blindness.
The transient nature of travelling circuses ensures the suffering doesn't end. Animals endure long, arduous journeys confined and cramped in small cages and crates that are used to transport them and severely restrict movement. In the off-season animals are often kept in barn stalls with limited access to the outside. They spend prolonged periods chained and/or housed in small enclosures that are inadequate to their individual needs with outdoor enclosures that are too small and in no way replicate their natural and wild environment. Some are also restrained in solitary confinement, living a life of extreme loneliness and boredom, deprived of stimulation, enrichment and natural social structure.
The perfomances are antiquated and outdated and serve no educational or conservation value. Circuses that use wild animals for entertainment have no place in a compassionate and modern society and teach children nothing of animal welfare.
We are calling on the UK government to take the ban seriously and make good their promise. With time running out, we urgently need to gather as many signatures as possible so please keep this petition circulating.
To read more about the suffering animals experience in circuses and to find out how else you can keep up the pressure to have this law passed, please visit:
http://www.working4wildlife.org.uk/Circuses.html
In March 2012, the UK government made a commitment to ban all wild animals from travelling circuses in England. An overwhelming majority of MPs support a blanket ban, as do the general public. The window of opportunity for the government to pass the law and make good its promise within this session of parliament is scheduled to be dissolved in March 2015.
Until the law is passed, current legislation allows circuses to use wild animals for entertainment although they must have Dangerous Wild Animals License. Until the law is passed, the UK has fallen behind 28 other countries who already have national restrictions in place.
There is compelling evidence that captive animals used for entertainment suffer both psychological and physical stress caused by their environments and constant performances as well as premature death. Captive animals regularly exhibit repetitive behaviours such as swaying, head bobbing, swinging, pacing, biting, over grooming and aggression, all signs of stress and lack of stimulation. The tricks animals are forced to undertake are not indicative of the natural behaviour exhibited by those seen in the wild. Performances are confusing, uncomfortable, repetitive and painful, often leading to crippling and debilitating injuries. Loud noises and huge rowdy crowds cause immense stress whilst excessive exposure to bright lights can cause eye sight problems that can and does lead to blindness.
The transient nature of travelling circuses ensures the suffering doesn't end. Animals endure long, arduous journeys confined and cramped in small cages and crates that are used to transport them and severely restrict movement. In the off-season animals are often kept in barn stalls with limited access to the outside. They spend prolonged periods chained and/or housed in small enclosures that are inadequate to their individual needs with outdoor enclosures that are too small and in no way replicate their natural and wild environment. Some are also restrained in solitary confinement, living a life of extreme loneliness and boredom, deprived of stimulation, enrichment and natural social structure.
The perfomances are antiquated and outdated and serve no educational or conservation value. Circuses that use wild animals for entertainment have no place in a compassionate and modern society and teach children nothing of animal welfare.
We are calling on the UK government to take the ban seriously and make good their promise. With time running out, we urgently need to gather as many signatures as possible so please keep this petition circulating.
To read more about the suffering animals experience in circuses and to find out how else you can keep up the pressure to have this law passed, please visit:
http://www.working4wildlife.org.uk/Circuses.html
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