'Ban Animal Circus Acts' Says Naomi

The East Belfast MP, Naomi Long is continuing to campaign for a ban on wild animals in circuses.

Animal Defenders International (ADI), the leading animal protection organisation that works globally for the protection of animals has stepped up its campaign to ban the use of wild animals in circuses and Naomi Long, the Alliance MP has pledged her support.

She was on hand with over 20 MPs from all political persuasions who gathered at Westminster's Parliament, to pledge their commitment to securing a ban on the use of wild animals in UK circuses, and calling on the Minister responsible, Lord Henley take action.

The MP (pictured with the ADI's 'Elephant' in London) is one of 162 politicians who have now signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion calling for the wild animal ban to be implemented.

"Animals in circuses live a life of restriction and constant transportation which is incompatible with the welfare of wild animals.

"They are often forced to perform confusing, uncomfortable, repetitious acts.

"As a member of Belfast City Council, I supported a ban on animal circuses on Council property, and I will continue to campaign and lead change to see a UK wide ban on circuses involving wild animals. Animal welfare must be higher up the political agenda," she insisted.

Jan Creamer, Chief Executive of Animal Defenders International said: "We applaud Naomi Long MP for helping strike a blow for wild animals currently languishing in UK circuses.

"We have been encouraged by the results of our recent political opinion poll and by the results of the Government's own public consultation last year that found nearly 100% of the public were behind a total ban.

"It is now abundantly clear to us that public and political support for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses has never been stronger. This process has been trundling along for over five years, and it is now time that government listened to the will of the UK people and enacted a ban," she said, noting that a recent parliamentary poll conducted by ADI found that 63% of MPs would like to see a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and only 14% disagreed.

"The Government's own public consultation in March 2010 also found that 94.5% of respondents backed a ban on wild animal acts."

(BMcC/KMcA)