Protection for wild animals

Legislation to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, said the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill, - the first of its kind in the UK - demonstrates our commitment to improving animal wellbeing and will prevent traveling circuses from showing wild animals in Scotland in the future.

The bill will:

• Ban the use of any wild animal in a travelling circus in Scotland
• The Act’s provisions would extend to Scotland only
• It will lead the way for the rest of the UK in tackling the important ethical issue of the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.

Speaking after the Stage 3 debate, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“This is an important Act that will not only prevent travelling circuses ever showing wild animals in Scotland in the future but will demonstrate to the wider world that we are one of the growing number of countries that no longer condones the use of wild animals in this way. 

“I am also very pleased at the way that the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government have worked together on this bill.  The consideration and input of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee in particular, has significantly strengthened the bill and that, backed up by clear guidance, means we will have a robust Act that is practical and easy to enforce.”