In early November, Wicklow Town Council became the fourth Irish council to ban wild animals in circuses.
Interest in this action was heightened last March after patrons in a busy coffee shop were alarmed by the escape of an elephant named Baby, first concerned for their own safety, then hers as she was subjected to the cruel bullhook.
Groups such as Ireland’s Animal Rights Action Network have appealed to local councils in their ‘Stop Circus Suffering in Ireland' campaign. Their ultimate goal is end the use of all animals in Irish circuses and transform the industry into one that uses only artistic performers and acrobats.
Earlier this year, the UK made what some are calling a flimsy effort to end this animal cruelty. But Wicklow has shown it means business by also voting to ban the promotion of ALL animal circuses.
Tell the rest of Ireland to follow Wicklow’s lead and ban all animals in all Irish circuses.
We, the undersigned, applaud the actions of these individual Irish councils and call on all of Ireland to at least ban the use of wild animals in circuses, if not all animal circuses.
With Bolivia the first, several countries have now banned all animals from circuses. Animal Defenders International, which works with countries to relocate animals from banned circuses says “It is clear now that the days are numbered for keeping animals in traveling facilities and forcing them to do tricks in the name of entertainment.”
Though ADI and others are disappointed with the UK’s “dithering” over the issue, claiming to ban the use of wild animals while talking of licensing circuses to allow it at the same time, that’s no excuse for Ireland not to follow the lead of Wicklow Council and more progressive countries and pass a law clearly ending the practice for good.
Please follow your councils’ and Boliva’s lead and do a better job of ending animal cruelty than what the UK proposes - and please do so as soon as possible.
Thanks for your time.
