Theresa May must fulfil pledge to ban performing circus animals, say campaigners

David Cameron failed to deliver on a promise to prohibit their use while he was in power

Ms May is under pressure from several high profile organisations to take action (Getty Images)

Theresa May must fulfil a Tory promise to ban circuses from using wild animals or we risk leaving them in misery and pain, campaign groups have warned.

In a letter to the Prime Minister the leading animal charities reproach her predecessor for failing to live up to the pledge, despite overwhelming public support.

The groups, backed by Boris Johnson’s father Stanley, said the UK is lagging “woefully behind” other countries that have already implemented a ban.

Among the eight organisations involved are the RSPCA, Peta, Animal Aid and Animal Defenders International.

Urging Ms May to bring forward Government legislation, they argue that circuses can never provide the right environment for wild animals.

Their letter reads: “They are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, their spirits are broken at a young age, and they are kept in cages or pens for most of their lives.

“Pacing, bar-biting, circling, self-mutilation, and other captivity-induced types of neurotic behaviour are common among performing animals.”

In 2011 a Defra consultation revealed 94 per cent of the public want to see a ban implemented and ex-Prime Minister David Cameron promised one by January 2015, making it a manifesto pledge.

But there was bitter disappointment earlier this year when a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses was once more absent from the Queen’s Speech.

While there is a private member’s bill – non-government sponsored – to bring the ban about, it has been repeatedly blocked in the House of Commons.

The campaign groups’ letter adds: “Every day that this legislation is delayed is another one of misery for animals.”

Countries including Austria, Bolivia, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Mexico, Serbia, and Singapore have already implemented bans or prohibitions on the use of wild-animal acts.

Other groups that signed the letter include the Born Free Foundation, the Animals Justice Project, the Captive Animals Protection Society and Viva.

Mr Johnson, whose son was made Foreign Secretary by Ms May, urged the Prime Minister to take the opportunity to tackle the problem.

He told The Independent: “Here we have a clear commitment in the Conservative manifesto which really needs to be delivered upon.

“But we have had several years now of shilly-shallying. We need to move forward.”

There was outrage last year when images from a secretly shot video showed Britain’s last circus elephant, called Anne, being beaten by handlers.

The Scottish government has already proposed a ban in its recently published legislative agenda.

A spokesperson from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “We have a manifesto commitment to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

“We will deliver this ban as soon as parliamentary time allows.

“In the meantime, we have a strict licencing system in place to ensure the welfare of any wild animals in circuses.

“This includes both announced and unannounced inspections, care plans for every animal, regular veterinary inspections and a retirement plan for each animal.”