One of the main topics of conversation – aside from the farcical comedy that local politics has become – is the opposition to circuses that feature animals.

There is one in Malta, at present, and everywhere it goes, it is met by opposition. Yet, permits continue to be issued and people who have animal welfare at heart have to put up with horrendous loudspeaker and poster advertising showing wild animals in a variety of poses and performing unnatural tricks.

In years gone by, the announcement of a circus coming to town was met with fanfare, pomp and a rush to buy tickets. Not so any more. Of course, there are still people who attend, and we make it clear – they are completely legal. Once sanctioned within the EU, these circuses are free to ply their trade all over the continent.

But Malta can take the lead here. Greece became the first country to outlaw circuses featuring wild animals. The UK has also passed legislation to that effect and so, the two nations will be the first in Europe to make such travelling ‘shows’ illegal.

Sadly, there are people who still believe that they should take their children to see the circus because they will never have the opportunity to see such animals in real life. This is true. But parents should think more. Children have become the ambassadors for animal welfare. There is a huge chunk of the population that are in love with their pets and travel specifically to see animals in the wild, or even to put something back in by caring for them. Schools and teachers also do their best to dissuade children from thinking that seeing wild animals in captivity is a good thing. Last year, this newspaper published a photograph of a lion – in a cage at Floriana – to raise awareness about the issue. The reaction we got was one of support. People just do not want to see lions, tigers and all manner of wild beasts in cages. It is wrong and the way these animals are procured is not always in line with the law.

There are others who will say that as long as the animals are treated well, fed and watered, then there is no problem. But there is a problem. These animals have often been taken from the wilds and ‘retrained’ to live in small pens. But the problem gets worse. Not only are these animals – which should be roaming free – consigned to a life of misery in a small cage and made to perform. They are transported all over the continent in trains, ships and lorries. And that is where the real hardship lies. We saw what a magnifiscent spectacle a circus without animals can be some years back, yet still we allow this cruelty to go on. The Animal Welfare Department have made inspections and certified that all is within the law – but off the record, they all say what an awful shame it is to see such beautiful beasts couped up in cages and pens.

The truth is what it is. We live in a continent where we have all but eradicated wildlife. To see animals in the wild, we have to travel to Africa and Asia. It is doable. We praise Alternattiva Demokratika for their stance on the matter, and we lend our support to their cause. The government – whichever party it may be- should have the courage to stand up and be counted by joining the UK and Greece in banning them, making them illegal. This is not a political issue – it is an issue which people feel very strongly about and the parties should listen. Just do a round on Facebook and see what the feeling is, and then take a moral decision from there. We could take the lead here, yet we are missing to opportunity to do so.