Animal Defenders International (ADI) is well known for their gratuitous and congratulatory self-promotion. Promoting themselves as key players in animal welfare where in fact they are no more than yet another ideologically driven animal rights business.
Their most recent pronouncement was that the Italian government has decided to ban the use of all animals in circuses. Animal Defenders International state:
"The final vote on the bill to phase out ALL animals in circuses and travelling shows took place on November 8th 2017 in the Assembly of the Italian Parliament and is now law! Rules for implementation of the new legislation to phase out all animals in circuses will be set out within one year by a Ministerial decree."
This statement is untrue. In an address to the Italian Parliament (in regulations that relate to the performing arts) it was suggested that circuses would discontinue animal acts. The Italian Senate will sit again in March and if this regulation does go through circuses will have three years to remove animal acts.
Therefore, this is not as yet law and the phasing out of any designated animals from circuses would be over a three year period not one year as stated. This situation is of course dependent on whether or not this regulation is actually passed by the Italian Senate.
To this end, there appears to be a certain amount of negotiation going on. Circuses have for example offered not to display giraffes or elephants but would like to keep exotics and cage acts such as lions and tigers. Therefore, statements that it is a complete ban on all animals (including domestic animals) is exaggerated and is also subject to debate and negotiation between the circus operators and the Italian government.
Further, in their press release Animal Defenders International once again try to confuse readers as to the level of prohibition animals in circuses have been subjected to internationally.
The facts are that very few countries have actually banned all animals in circuses. Some countries have a prescribed list of animals that may appear in circuses, which would include not just domestic animals but also some wild species. Moreover, many countries have specific regulations for the health and welfare of circus animals, which require inspection and licensing including Germany, France and Britain. Therefore, true to form, Animal Defenders International’s claim that 41 countries have prohibited the use of animals in circuses is exaggerated rhetoric and untrue.
It should be noted, that Animal Defenders International's efforts to obtain circus animals - so that it can hand them onto their colleagues in the animal rights sanctuary industry - ended tragically in Africa for four lions: two died of died of botulism poisoning and the other two were killed by poachers and dismembered.
Astley's Legacy was formed to counter the misinformation and propaganda spread by animal rights activists. As well as fighting the corner for circus animals and their trainers, we are here to promote and celebrate the cultural heritage of circus in general, and especially in the country of its birth - Great Britain. For more information please see our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/223570581049199
Or follow us on Twitter: @RousterAstley
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