Animal circus no longer coming to town

CIRCUSES that use wild animals are set to be banned by a London borough.

Wandsworth is expected to agree to the move after considering evidence from the RSPCA, which believes the animals endure unacceptable stress and suffering.

A draft report recommends a ban. A final decision is expected in spring. The RSPCA says circuses in Britain still use scores of wild animals including elephants, zebras, lions, snakes, tigers, camels, kangaroos and crocodiles.

At present, Wandsworth allows the animals to appear in parks and open spaces, which include Tooting and Wandsworth Commons. The exception is Battersea Park, which used to be owned by the GLC.

But the report, written by the council's leisure chief, urges councillors to extend the ban: "The RSPCA believes the circus is no place for an animal. The lack of regulation of the circus industry ... leads me to recommend council policy be revised to remove the ambiguity of there being a ban in Battersea Park, but not in the borough's other parks."

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA added: "No intelligent person finds entertainment from watching an elephant sitting on a stool or a tiger roaring on command."

However, Malcolm Clays, secretary of the Association of Circus Proprietors, said: "There is a lot of demand for circuses with performing animals. There is no evidence that training animals is cruel."