Having wild animals in circuses “should be consigned to the history books”, the RSPCA said VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/GettyWild animals are to be banned from performing in circuses if a draft bill becomes law. The reform comes after a long-running campaign by welfare groups which argued that making animals perform in travelling circuses affected their health. David Cameron introduced draft legislation in 2013 that had widespread support from MPs but failed to become law. Michael Gove, the environment secretary, intends to reintroduce the bill after Scotland introduced a ban last month. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told the Daily Mail: “The government wants to see an end to the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and will legislate for a ban as soon as parliamentary time allows.”According to a government consultation, 94.5 per cent of the public are…

Source: The Times January 08, 2018 01:39 UTC