Various animal protection organisations and pro-animal bloggers throughout the world are proclaiming success in that the British government has banned wild animals in circuses. This is not true. Further, to repeat this claim is to give credit where none is due.

The commitment made is the intent to ban wild animals in circuses. Meanwhile, the government will set up a regulatory scheme to license wild animals in circuses.

People! Pay attention!

The BBC reports

In a written parliamentary statement, Lord Taylor said: “There is no place in today’s society for wild animals being used for our entertainment in travelling circuses. Wild animals deserve our respect. “We have said many times we wanted to ban this outdated practice, but before we could do that there were serious legal issues we had to consider. “We are developing proposals to introduce a bill as soon as parliamentary time allows. “In the meantime we are introducing a Circus Licensing Scheme to ensure decent conditions for wild animals in travelling circuses.”

Regrettably, the last Labour government also failed to institute a ban when it could.