A ban on the use of wild animals already exists in circuses across many EU countries.

Report calls for a ‘swift and humane end' to animals in entertainment

Animal welfare organisations across Europe are joining forces to put an end to the use of wild animals in entertainment.

A coalition of 16 NGOs, including Born Free, Eurogroup for Animals and the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe (FVE), met in Brussels to launch the coalition together with a new report.

The report shows that although a ban on the use of wild animals already exists in circuses across many EU countries, there are no outright bans on the use of wild animals in television and film.

The coalition are now calling on Member States to ensure the use of wild animals in performance is brought to a ‘swift and humane end’.

“Through this collaborative approach, efforts will concentrate on achieving expedite bans in the remaining countries where this practice is still legal,” commented Born Free’s programme manager, Daniel Turner. “Wild animal performances have no place in modern European society."

The coalition are concerned that the use of wild animals in performance inevitably impacts negatively upon that animal’s welfare.

They also fear that the use of wild animals in entertainment demeans the natural attributes of animals, which are often required to perform behaviours far removed from the natural behaviour of wild counterparts.

Jan Maarten, director of FVE added: “It’s simply impossible to adequately meet the physiological, mental and social needs of the animals in travelling circuses. There are no good reasons to justify the prolongation of such practices.”