Circuses face new curbs in animal protection Bill

Animals born in the wild may be banned in circuses under proposed animal welfare legislation due to be published this week.

Animals born in the wild may be banned in circuses under proposed animal welfare legislation due to be published this week.

The use of tethers, goads and whips to train and control performing animals would be subject to new restrictions, and there may be fresh curbs on the use of animals considered "dangerous" under current laws.

The law would include higher standards for the housing of all animals, including horses, when they are not performing, to make circuses keep to the same winter quarter standards for breeding and performing beasts as those expected in zoos. It would also stop the use of pain and punishment as a training method.

The proposals, which are unlikely to come before Parliament until at least 2003, come after a number of prosecutions against circuses for mistreatment of animals, including a high-profile case against the circus trainer Mary Chipperfield, who was fined £7,500 for cruelty to a baby chimpanzee.

The RSPCA is expected to take part in the launch of the proposals this week. Niall Duffy, head of public affairs at the charity, said yesterday: "For too long there have been examples of circuses with standards of animal care which leave a lot to be desired. They certainly should not be using animals for entertainment which were born in the wild."

The charity wants a complete ban of the use of animals in circuses, but the Government is stopping short of proposing a ban on dogs and horses in the ring, although restrictions on the use of wild creatures such as elephants are being considered.

Among other animal welfare measures proposed, the age at which children can buy petmammals including cats, hamsters, rats and rabbits from shops would be raised to 16. The present age limit is 12, set in 1951.

Puppy farms and animal breeders would face stricter rules, and new standards affecting riding stables and stud farms would make it easier to disqualify owners for cruelty to horses.

A loophole which means that a person banned from keeping animals can have them at home if another resident is said to be responsible is likely to be closed.

The Bill will deal with general animal welfare on and off farms, including zoos, pets and circuses, but not in laboratories. Anti-vivisection groups said yesterday that animals used in experiments had "lower welfare standards" than all other animals in the UK.

The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection accused the Government of protecting the interests of laboratory scientists, and urged them to include lab animals in the Bill.

Sarah Kite, research director, said: "It shows the hypocrisy of this government that experimental animals, including primates, will not be protected. If you have a pet dog and you poured bleach down its throat you would expect to be prosecuted. But a scientist can do the same and is exempt from prosecution."

The Bill will also exclude hunted animals, which will be the subject of a free vote by MPs expected in the coming year.