Yesterday, the conference “Use of Wild Animals in Circuses: Time for a Change” co-hosted at the European Parliament by MEP Marlene Mizzi, the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals and Eurogroup for Animals, sent a clear message to the EU: the public support for using wild animals in circus shows is long gone and the European Commission must act to ban this outmoded and unethical entertainment across all Member States without exception.
The use of wild animals in circuses regularly leads to accidents involving animal tamers, circus employees and public. The past few years have seen increasing concerns over the ethics and safety of using wild animals in circuses, and this has led to changes in legislation in a number of EU Member States.
The European widespread public outcry about the use of animals in circuses’ performances highlights the need for introducing a European ban. More than half of the EU states have already adopted national legislations aimed at banning wild animals in circuses along with more than 50 states in the world.
By opening the conference, MEP Mizzi shared why Malta in 2014 adopted a total ban on the use of animals in circuses. She explained that “Malta adopted this ban as our government recognizes that circuses do not, by any means, provide a suitable environment for animals to express normal behavioural patterns, nor provide suitable shelter or protecting from pain and suffering. However, currently, Member States that have adopted the ban of wild animals in circuses – are still compelled to accept having these animals moved through their territory. Furthermore, circuses are now travelling even longer distances to reach the sites where they are authorized to perform, making animals spend even more time in trucks and having their welfare seriously compromised. This is why we need an EU-wide ban.”
Marlene Mizzi closed the event by calling on Member States and EU institutions to adopt a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. She said, “Let’s show to our children and grandchildren that these magnificent animals don’t deserve humiliation and captivity, but respect and dignity.”