Welfare of wild animals in circuses: why we need a ban
Ilaria Di Silvestre
Eco-ethologist and Project Leader Advocacy Wildlife, Eurogroup for Animals
Wild animals are not suited for a life in circus.
• Tamed animals, not domesticated (Harris et al, 2006). Wild animals in circuses are individuals forced to adapt to and submit themselves to humans
• An animal species is considered domesticated when it has undergone genetic changes as a result of long-lasting selective breeding process
Main welfare implications of a circus
life for wild animals
• Limited space availability
• Maternal separation
• Restricted social interactions
• Frequent traveling
• Training and performance
Why an EU ban?
• Health risks: Commission Regulation (EC) 1739/2005
• Risk of Wildlife Trafficking : Council Regulation (EC) No 338/972
• Public security: more than 100 serious accidents happened in EU in the last 20 years due to wild animals in circuses.
12 camels escaped from zircus Renz
Berlin12 Camel
The
Netherlands2015
http://www.rijnmond.nl/nieu
ws/16-09-2015/circuskamelen-
ontsnapt-hoogvliet
1 elephant escaped and wandered in
a market1 Elephant Netherlands 2015
http://www.upi.com/Odd_Ne
ws/2015/08/19/Escaped-circus-
elephant-wanders-through-
Dutch-flea-
market/8511439988974/
Escaped elephant attacked and killed
a 65 year old man
1 elephant Germany 2015 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/n
ews/article-3122794/Runaway-
elephant-escapes-circus-kills-
65-year-old-man-morning-
stroll-Germany.html
One lion attacked a man 1 lion - 2015 http://video.dunyanews.tv/in
dex.php/en/mustwatch/13376
/-Lion-Attacks-A-Man-In-
Circus...#.Ve1zVxGqqko
One elephant killed his caretaker 1 Elephant France 2014 http://www.hngn.com/article
s/41967/20140910/retired-
circus-elephant-accidentally-
kills-caretaker.htm
An escaped elephant killed two
people.
2 1 Elephant France 2013 http://www.buzzfeed.com/ell
ievhall/84-year-old-french-
man-killed-by-runaway-
elephant#.knqwX1mOg
One tiger attacked one of his trainers
during show
1 tiger Spain 2013 http://www.huffingtonpost.c
om/2013/12/10/tiger-mauls-
tamer-gottani-circus-
attack_n_4415026.html
One elephant escaped from circus in
Ireland and wandered in the city
centre.
1 Elephant Ireland 2012 http://www.bbc.com/news/w
orld-europe-17545814
Elephant attacked and injured a 12
years old child.
1 Elephant Germany 2012 http://www.wildedierendete
ntuit.nl/nieuws/laatste-
nieuws/566-circusolifant-
breekt-kaak-jongen
Four tigers escaped and killed two
horses and one camel
1 Four tigers Netherlands 2011 http://www.telegraaf.nl/binn
enland/article20245519.ece
Belgian caretaker has been bitten by
a tiger during cleaning
1 tiger France 2011 http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/96
0/Buitenland/article/detail/12
02594/2011/01/02/Belgische-
verzorgster-gewond-na-beet-
van-circustijger.dhtml
Two men severely wounded by
elephants
2 elephant Germany 2010 http://www.wildedierendete
ntuit.nl/component/content/
article/2-nieuws/374-
zwaargewonden-na-ongeval-
met-olifant-op-bedrijfsfeestje
Lion injured tamer Herman Renz
during his performance.
1 Lion Netherlands 2010 http://www.wildedierendete
ntuit.nl/component/content/
article/2-nieuws/309-leeuw-
verwondt-dompteur-van-
circus-herman-renz
Tiger attacked tamer from circus
Probst. During a performance the
tiger jumped on his back and bit his
arm
1 Tiger Germany 2010 http://www.solinger-
tageblatt.de/solingen/
One elephant slipped and broke his
leg. During his fall he crushed his
tamer.
1 elephant Spain 2010 http://www.demorgen.be/bui
tenland/belgische-
dierentemster-verpletterd-
onder-olifant-a1061341/
Eight camels escaped from circus
Belly Wien. One of the animals broke
the arm and knee of a man.
1 1 Eight camels The
Netherlands
2009 http://www.wildedierendete
ntuit.nl/component/content/
article/2-nieuws/278-8-
kamelen-ontsnappen-uit-
circus-man-breekt-arm
1 hippotamus escaped from circus
Roma.
1 Hippopotamus Spain 2009 http://infocircos.org/userfiles
/file/INFOCIRCOS.pdf
Elephants crushed a man in his cage Elephant UK 2012 http://www.wildedierendete
ntuit.nl/nieuws/laatste-
nieuws/532-olifant-verwond-
man-in-het-circus
1
Treaty of Maastricht and the EC Directive
2004/38 establish restrictions on the right
of entry and the right of residence of
people on grounds of public security or
public health
why the residence and the
movement of dangerous animals should not been forbidden?
Principles of subsidiarity and proportionality
Subsidiarity: EU may only intervene if it is able to act more effectively than EU countries at their respective national or local levels
19 MS with different types of ban, even at local level/circuses move between Member States.
Proportionality: The content and form of the action must be in keeping with the aim pursued:
The ban is both an appropriate and necessary measure.