Hunting

The RSPCA is opposed to any hunting of animals with dogs or any other animal and is satisfied that the hunted animal experiences considerable suffering. The RSPCA therefore fully supports the Hunting Act 2004. The Society is delighted that despite dire predictions before the Act was introduced, many hunts have successfully adjusted to the new law, thereby keeping their hounds and preserving local jobs.

The Hunting Act was introduced to prevent wild animals being chased and killed for sport, and we are pleased that hunting wild animals to a cruel and pointless death is no longer tolerated in modern Britain.

Offences under the Hunting Act were successfully prosecuted in 2007 more often that some other wildlife legislation, and the legal challenges to the Act have been dismissed in the UK and Europe.

The Hunting Act is working well and is supported by the majority of the British population.

 

Wild animals and circuses

 The RSPCA is currently campaigning for a ban on wild animals in circuses in England and Wales.  We believe that it is both an animal welfare and an ethical issue for wild animals to be kept in close confinement in circuses and made to perform unnatural behaviour, and we do not believe that this does anything to educate the public or foster respect for animals. 

There are currently an estimated 150-200 performing animals in circuses in the UK, with around 38 of these being wild animals including lions, tigers, elephants, snakes and zebras.  Successive polls by the RSPCA have shown that the majority of the public support a ban on wild animals in circuses. Whilst the number of wild animals in circuses has reduced in the past 15 years, there is little evidence of voluntary action by the circus industry to prohibit these animals and the recent decision by the industry to import more elephants shows the need for legislation.

We believe that animals are kept in circuses purely for the purpose of entertaining the public rather than any more fundamental benefit. The animals are kept for most of the time in close confinement, often in abnormal social groups, exposed to forced movement, human handling, noise, vibration, cage motion and confinement. The types of behaviours that animals in circuses are trained to perform are completely unnatural (e.g. elephants trained to sit on a tub; tigers jumping through hoops).

Wild animals have not undergone the domestication process that animals such as dogs or horses have and so are not adapted to humans and the captive environment.  Being used in travelling circuses is therefore likely to have a greater impact on wild animals.

The RSPCA would like politicians to commit to banning wild animals in travelling circuses.

What can you do?

• Have a look at the briefings you can download and read on wild animals in circuses
• Get involved with the Big Stop campaign in England
• If you live in Wales you can take further action here.
• Discuss the issues with other supporters in our forums
• Ask your prospective general election candidates what their views are on wild animals in circuses

Other laws that affect wild animals

Here you can find some of the key pieces of law passed over the past 20 years relating to wildlife. Follow the links to find out what the laws do. You can see other laws by visiting our animal welfare law timeline.

1. Hunting Act 2004
2. Wild Animals (Protection) Act 1996
3. Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000
4. Badgers Act 1991
5. Deer Act 1991