The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform in the new Scottish Government, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, has announced that she intends to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses on ethical grounds. The statement – made in response to a Parliamentary Question by Green MSP John Finnie – confirms the position already taken by the SNP in its election manifesto.
Having taken a leading role in campaigning for a ban on wild animal circuses in Scotland for several years, we are naturally delighted that legislation is finally in prospect. We hope that a Bill will be introduced as soon as possible. While there are no circuses based in Scotland, there is currently nothing to stop circuses travelling north of the border – as we saw in late 2014, when five big cats were brought to overwinter in Aberdeenshire. Furthermore, a ban here in Scotland will support those advocating bans in other countries in the UK and across Europe.
In Scotland, 98% of responses to a recent consultation on the proposal were in support and polling commissioned by OneKind and other charities shows that 76% of the Scottish public support a ban. Yet despite overwhelming public support for a ban in all the UK countries, legislation has still not been delivered in any administration. Successive Westminster governments have been pledging to ban wild animal circuses in England since 2010 and review is now underway in Wales. It’s not a race, of course – but it would be great to see Scotland lead the way on this totemic animal welfare issue.
The long delay in bringing legislation has seen changes in the way wild animals are used in entertainment since we started campaigning on this issue. The use of elephants and tigers in travelling circuses is, thankfully, dwindling and will soon be gone. But now we are seeing an upsurge in travelling animal entertainments, where animals such as meerkats, pythons and birds of prey are taken to venues and used for talks, parties, displays and handling sessions. Whilst we understand that this new legislation won’t affect these businesses, we hope it will spark a wider conversation about how animals are used in entertainment.
The new Cabinet Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, has taken over the animal welfare brief in a restructured Cabinet which sees agriculture and environment split for the first time since the Scottish Parliament began. In response to a question by Christine Grahame MSP – Convener of the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare in the Scottish Parliament and a doughty champion of animal welfare – the Cabinet Secretary explained:
“I lead on welfare issues affecting wild animals, domestic pets and animals kept in captivity and have responsibility for over arching animal welfare issues.
“My colleague Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, leads on the welfare of agricultural animals.”
This looks like a good move, recognising the welfare needs of all animals and (very nearly) integrating them into one ministerial brief. OneKind would still prefer to see animal welfare recognised, with one Cabinet Secretary responsible for a single portfolio – but it’s a start, and one we hope to build on over the coming session.