Stop Circus Suffering

The costly licensing scheme for wild animals in circuses, which became effective in January, has failed to issue licences to the two circuses that have applied to include wild and exotic animals in their circus tours for the 2013 season, which has already got under way.

Despite a cold and wintry night, around 20 local supporters joined ARAN at a demo outside the Kilkenny Town Hall on Monday 11th March to call on the council to support a motion to ban circuses with wild animals from performing on council-owned land.

ADI has an obligation to probe and ask questions of those in possession of vulnerable animals, and we take particular life-long interest in those animals whose lives have been changed by an ADI investigation. The long-term monitoring of Anne’s life that resulted in the successful recordings in the barn, led to her final release from her suffering.

UPDATE: In a written answer to a parliamentary question on 14 February 2013, it was stated by Mr Heath that: To date, two applications for a licence have been received by DEFRA. One inspection has taken place and a date for the other inspection has been booked. No licences have been issued so far.

On 13 February, Animal Defenders International met with John Griffiths, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, and his advisors at the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff to discuss the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales.

In response to Longleat’s plans for Anne, ADI is pleased and relieved to see Anne in a better situation at Longleat.