Alliance Calls For Wild Animals Circus Ban

Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly has reiterated his call for a ban on circus acts using wild animals in Northern Ireland.

The Antrim Councillor made the announcement in anticipation of Duffy's Circus arriving in Antrim next week.

He has called on Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill to bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK on the issue.

The UK government announced in April plans to introduce legislation that will ban wild animals in circuses.

The ban will come into effect by 2015.

Mr Kelly said: "While Duffy's Circus is exercising its legal right in Northern Ireland to use wild animals, I believe this is ethically and morally wrong and would encourage local people to think hard about supporting any circus that continued to use wild animals in this way.

"I am also concerned that with the ban coming to England and Wales wild animals used there will find their way to Northern Ireland, thus increasing this practice rather than reducing it.

"Lions and tigers performing tricks in a circus tent seven days a week needs to be stopped, carting these great animals around the country in cages on the back of a lorry is just not right."

Naomi Long said: "We have seen a number of individual cases of wild animals being mistreated in circuses, which I know so many people were disgusted with. However, even if they are not being mistreated or wilfully neglected, a circus is no place for them as their welfare and other needs cannot be met in such an environment.

"While the legislation will only affect England, I hope that it will act as a model for the Minister of Agriculture in Northern Ireland, Michele O'Neill, to implement a similar ban here. She had previously stated that she would be willing to implement a ban but would have to review the legal position in light of any developments in the UK or Ireland. Now that Westminster has published this draft legislation, I will be pressing her to follow suit in the Assembly."

(IT/CD)