Hollywood star Rhys Ifans slams wild animal circuses
Governments of Wales and England urged to fulfil circus ban pledges
Pembrokeshire-born Hollywood star and musician Rhys Ifans, known for his role in Notting Hill, has joined Animal Defenders International to help wild animals forced to perform in circuses. Giving his support to our Stop Circus Suffering campaign, Rhys said: “Like bear baiting, witch burning and the “Welsh not”, this cruel practice belongs in the past.”
Rhys joins a host of celebrities, conservation experts, vets and wildlife experts backing our call for legislation to prohibit wild animal circus acts, and in opposing ‘An evening with lions and tigers’ which has been prevented from performing in England over welfare failings and is now touring Wales where regulations for wild animals in circuses do not apply.
Two lions and three tigers appear under the guise of education in the show, which has been met with public and political opposition, protests and petitions as it tours Wales, with an appearance in Bridgend cancelled last week.
A ban on wild animal acts in England, to be adopted in Wales, was announced in 2012 and draft legislation published the following year. Government inaction in progressing the matter has allowed the return of performing big cats to Britain, and two circuses to continue to perform with and acquire additional wild animals.
ADI thanks Rhys for speaking out on behalf of the lions, tigers and other wild animals who continue to suffer for entertainment and urges the Welsh Assembly and British Government to urgently move forward with their plans to prohibit such acts once and for all.
If you agree that wild animal acts belong in the past please take action today!
- Urge your AM and MP to press for the promised wild animal circus ban to be urgently passed – and urge your MP to sign EDM 192 today
- Sign our petition against ‘An evening with lions and tigers’ in Wales and attend local protests when a wild animal circus comes to town
- Join the protests against the big cat show in Swansea
- Make a donation and help us expose the suffering of animals in entertainment
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This should be stopped. No circus, aquarium and earth animals should pose for money. They should stay in peace in their own living space.
We are in the 21st century! Not the dark ages!
PLease stop using animals for humans amusement!
We all know that this is cruelty how would you feel if a family member was taken trained tortured to perform for making money in the name of entertainment we need to stop this now.
Please stop the madness
This is 2015, we are more aware, more conscious, more sustainable and more caring. Time to stop the stupidity of animal cruelty for entertainment. We humans are not that special that gentle giants have to do tricks for people. This is insane. The UK should be showing the way.
Im disgusted the government still haven’t banned circuses. They have gone back on their word. These places are unatural and cruel.
Please stop the the Cruelty!!
This must stop.NOW! I have been waiting for Animal Rights recognition for over 70 Years! I want to see animal freedom from human enslavement in my lifetime. No more hesitation … There is enough human support to get this passed without further hesitation!
Stop this nonsense!
Stop this disgusting practice NOW !!
Disgraceful !!
This is disgusting in so many ways. Please stop using animals for entertainment!!!!!
Circuses that exploit any animals are barbaric and need to banned. This has got to stop! It’s animal abuse. Don’t buy tickets!
This cruel, barbaric treatment if animals belongs in a long ago century! End this cruelty now!
Its really time to end this use of animals!!!!
Stop the cruelty!
Please put an end to this inhumane treatment of animals. It is sad and awful, and it needs to stop. These animals live in deplorable conditions and are tortured to perform tricks for money. They often receive little to no medical treatment. Please be the change to end this treatment.
cruelty!
Despicable.
Just stop being aliens, respect live.
Wild animals belong in the wild, not performing circus tricks for cheap laughs. Please keep wild animals out of circuses.
These cats should not be used for entertainment. This is animal cruelty. They should be in their natural habitat or at a rescue santuary.
No animal should be forced to perform I’m public.
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