Wales’ wild animal circus ban given Royal Assent

RSPCA Cymru is celebrating news that the Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill has been given Royal Assent.

A Royal Assent ceremony took place yesterday with the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths and First Minister Mark Drakeford present.

The law is set to come into force on 1st December.

The legislation comes off the back of 14 years of campaigning by the RSPCA, since the relevant powers were devolved to Wales – and will make it an offence to perform or exhibit a wild animal in a travelling circus.

Polling commissioned by the charity revealed that 74 per cent of people in Wales backed a ban on wild animals performing in circuses, while approximately 9,000 people had penned an RSPCA Cymru petition calling for the practice to be outlawed.

Today we seal our Wild Animals and Circuses Bill! 📜🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Environment Minister Lesley Griffiths joined @fmwales in sealing the Bill, which comes into force on 1st of December, and will ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. pic.twitter.com/LLCOG9CYNB

— Welsh Government Environment and Rural Affairs (@WGEnviroAgri) September 7, 2020

Claire Lawson, RSPCA assistant director for external relations in Wales, said: “While Royal Assent was something of a formality, it’s another cause for celebration as a ban on the performance and exhibition of wild animals in circuses in Wales edges nearer.

“RSPCA Cymru has long campaigned on this issue – and this law makes such an important statement as to how society in Wales treats animals, and our norms and values towards our fellow living creatures.

“The strength of feeling in all corners of Wales is clear, and people across the country will join us in celebrating on 1 December when this out-dated activity is finally banned and consigned to the history books, once and for all.”

*Picture: Welsh Government Twitter