The use of wild animals in travelling circuses has received a lot of public and political attention across Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom. In July 2018, the Welsh Government announced that a Bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses would be brought forward within the next 12 months. The draft Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Wales) Bill was published on 1 October 2018 and aims to enforce a ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses in Wales, on ethical grounds.
This briefing has been published in anticipation of the Bill’s introduction and focuses on the policy background and issues associated with the use of wild animals in travelling circuses within Wales and the rest of the UK.
New Publication: Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (PDF, 757KB)
Article by Holly Tipper and Katy Orford, Senedd Research, National Assembly for Wales
Senedd Research acknowledges the parliamentary fellowship provided to Holly Tipper by the Natural Environment Research Council which enabled this article to be completed.
