MP backs ban on wild animals in circuses (From Times Series)

Hendon MP Matthew Offord backs ban on wild animals in circuses

2:00pm Thursday 29th September 2011 in News By Natalie O'Neill

THE MP for Hendon joined campaigners rallying for a ban on wild animals in circuses this week.

Matthew Offord stood alongside London based Animal Defenders International (ADI) outside Hendon Library in The Burroughs on Tuesday, calling for the Government to take action.

He said: “I am fully behind ADI’s campaign to ban wild animals in circuses, and applaud the hard work it has done to make progress on this issue over the years.

“Parliament has called for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses in June and the public are also overwhelmingly in favour, so it is time for the Government to do the right thing, listen to the will of the country and implement a ban once and for all.”

With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogota, ADI campaigns against the use of animals in experiments, entertainment purposes and the worldwide traffic of endangered species.

ADI supporter Steve McGuinness, of Finchley, said: “To continue to allow wild animals to be shown at circuses reflects badly on us as a society. How can we support this cruel practice in the name of entertainment?”

Fay Jenkinson, of Cricklewood, said: “Licensing is never going to work. Even with the best intentions, circuses cannot give the animals decent welfare and freedom. I say to the Government stop ignoring the 95 per cent of the public who demand a ban, and get on with it.”