Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 29th May 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Honoured actors support campaign for wild animal circus ban
Circus tiger
The enforcement of a wild animal circus ban will prevent further suffering of the UK's circus animals

Letter written to the Queen to urge for action to be taken

Two honoured British actors have collaborated in joining the Animal Defenders International’s (ADI) Stop Circus Suffering campaign.  

Sir Roger Moore KBE and Imelda Staunton OBE have both been honoured by the Queen for their achievements. They have now written Her Majesty a letter, urging her to ensure that prompt action is taken to pass a wild animal circus ban. 

The letter raised concerns that despite government promises, action to bring a wild animal circus ban into force has been slow. It requested that commitment to the ban is included in the Queens speech at the State Opening of Parliament on the 4th June.

A letter was delivered to David Cameron last month, prompting him to reaffirm his commitment to the ban of wild animal acts. The letter, which was headed by former Conservative MEP and conservationist Stanley Johnson and social justice campaigner Peter Tatchell, was signed by 75 celebrities and politicians including Dame Judi Dench, Timothy West CBE, Eddie Izzart and Julian Clary.
 
ADI Chief Executive, Jan Creamer, said: “I am delighted that Sir Roger Moore and Imelda Staunton OBE are urging the Queen to support the promised ban on wild animals in circuses, which has support from the public and politicians alike. The Government has promised a ban and we want to see it happen. Further delays will result in continued animal suffering.”
 
The ban is widely supported by vets, animal welfare experts, politicians and the vast majority of the public. A consultation by Defra on the issue revealed that 94.5 per cent of respondents were in support of the ban.
 
Following implementation of a ban, the UK’s wild circus animals can be relocated to sanctuaries with the help of ADI. The charity have recently relocated 25 lions after securing a circus ban in Bolivia and are currently liaising with authorities to assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of circus animals in Peru.
 
Image courtesey of Animal Defenders International.
 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Submissions open for BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026

News Story 1
 The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.

It is an opportunity for applicants to present new research on any veterinary subject, such as the preliminary results of a study, discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.

They must be based on high-quality clinical research conducted in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.

Applications are welcome from vets, vet nurses, practice managers, and students.

Submissions are open until 6 March 2026. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk