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Welsh Assembly Members urged to bring forward circus ban
Wild animals are now banned in circuses in 46 countries.

Committee agrees "general principles" of bill 

The National Assembly’s climate change, environment and rural affairs committee has backed proposed legislation by the welsh government to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. In a report published on Friday, the committee scrutinised the Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill.

The bill, which was introduced in July, currently has a planned implementation date of 1 December 2020, but Animal Defenders International (ADI) is urging assembly members to bring forward the ban, so that the suffering of the animals ends sooner.

In the report, the committee recommends that:

  • The assembly agrees the “general principles of the bill”
  • The Minster provides a “more comprehensive” explanation about the scope of the bill and the ethical arguments behind it
  • The bill is amended to include the availability of statutory guidance to support the implementation of the ban and that that guidance is clear on specific terms and procedures
  • The Welsh government discuss available support and advice concerning re-homing options with Defra.

In a public consultation about the bill, 97 per cent of respondents agreed that it should be made an offence for wild animals to be used in a travelling circus. The constant travel and lack of appropriate facilities in circuses mean that animal welfare is inevitably compromised.

Currently, two travelling circuses are planning to tour with wild animals following the ban. ADI is urging these circuses to allow the animals to be re-homed to suitable sanctuaries, which would resolve possible enforcement issues with the ban and ensure the well-being of the animals is upheld.

Image (c) Animal Defenders International

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.