A new legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament bans travelling cruises that avails wild animals from entering the country.
Scotland will become the first UK nation to implements such rule.
Scotland’s Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham introduced the bill after a public consultation.’
The bill was backed by 98 percent of the respondents.
Cunningham said it is an important Act to prevent travelling circuses ever showing wild animals in Scotland in the future.It will show the world that they were one among the countries that no longer condones the use of wild animals in this way.
However, law does not specifically define “wild animal”. This implies that the courts will be allowed to interpret it broadly in order to give animals maximum protection.
Others went on saying that the bill should further ban the use of wild animals in static circuses, bird of prey displays and sports such as greyhound racing.
Mike Ruskell, the Scottish Greens’ environment spokesperson was happy that Holyrood finally approved a bill to ban this abuse and joined dozens of other countries.
Ruskell further added that the Scottish government must now look at banning the use of wild animals in static circuses and impose further regulation of performances where the welfare of animals is not compromised.
After the Scottish vote, Jan Creamer, president of the charity Animal Defenders International that the Scottish Government and Parliament agreed to the public and banished travelling circuses with wild animals forever while England continues to sit on its hands.
