Your Guide to the Reality of Animal Circus



"The academic panel concluded that there appears to be little evidence to demonstrate that the welfare of animals kept in travelling circuses is any better or worse than that of animals kept in other captive environments" - Executive Summary of the DEFRA Circus Working Group 2007

Join us on Facebook The WELFARE of Circus animals.

Friday, 16 June 2017

Scottish ban on wild animals in circuses. Banning Circuses, Banning Zoos.






The Scottish Parliament has continued to collate opinions about their proposed ban on wild animals in circuses.  On 13 June 2017, it was the opportunity of the animal-rights movement to present evidence.  For those who have followed this process they would be aware that Martin Burton of Zippos Circus suggested at a Parliamentary committee meeting, that the new legislation proposed by the Scottish Parliament could in fact mean the end of zoos.  This was reported widely in the media

Monday, 12 June 2017

Scottish ban on wild animals in circuses. Thomas Chipperfield Responds

Thomas Chipperfield on the cover of The Telegraph Magazine.

As many know from our recent blog, the Scottish government is planning to introduce a bill to ban performing animals in travelling circuses. 
Below we reproduce a letter from Thomas Chipperfield who is the UK's only current big cat trainer working in a travelling circus. This is a copy of a letter he has sent to the Scottish; Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.  We are grateful to
Thomas Chipperfield for allowing us to reproduce it here.

Wednesday, 7 June 2017

Scottish ban on wild animals in circuses. Is it really ethical?





As many know from our recent blog, the Scottish government is planning to introduce a bill to ban performing animals in travelling circuses.  In a similar vein to the British government, the Scottish governments say they wish to ban this activity based on ethical grounds.  The British government made the point they could not ban animals in circuses on welfare grounds because it was not supported by the available science.  But what exactly do they mean by ethics?  In addition, what is the opinion of a qualified academic regarding this matter?


Below we reproduce a letter from Professor Ron Beadle who is Professor of Organisation and Business Ethics at Northumbria University. This is a copy of a letter he has sent to the Scottish environment change in land reform committee.  We are grateful to Professor Ron Beadle allowing us to reproduce it here.