Picture by joanneburgessphotography.com
Campaigners against using wild animals in circuses held a nightly protest at a lion tamer show while it was in Tir-y-Berth.
An Evening with Lions and Tigers was in the county borough from October 29 to November 8, and activists demonstrated outside calling for people not to attend.
The RSPCA also called on people to boycott the show, which is banned in England.
The owners currently do not hold a licence for English performances after a dispute over the size of indoor space for the animals.
The show failed a Defra inspection on June 10 this year because the indoor accommodation was just over of half what it should be.
On November 6, protesters were joined by several councillors, including Labour Assembly candidate and St Cattwg councillor Hefin David.
Cllr David said: “These local residents feel very strongly about this. This isn’t a council licensing issue as it’s a private piece of land, so we don’t currently have any power, which is why the Welsh Government need to intervene.”
Protester Abi Reed, from Gilfach, said: “My son is five and I don’t want him thinking that a circus with a cage with an animal in is okay.”
She called on the Welsh Government to ban wild animals in circuses outright – a move supported by Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert and Cllr David.
Anthony Beckwith, owner of An Evening with Lions and Tigers, said: “We currently do not hold a Defra licence as it is not required in Wales. Instead, we hold all the relevant licences to tour Wales.”
The Welsh Government are looking into banning such shows after they claimed the UK Government has been slow to act.
Don’t expect the Welsh Government to do anything about it too quickly, they’re all far too busy counting their big fat pay increase, selling off land for a fraction of what it’s worth, making decisions for us regarding our own organ donation, sticking food hygiene ratings on windows, putting water sprinklers into new build homes and trying to ban smoking of any sort in any place they can……but they did manage to find the time to blame their failings on the UK Government ( par for the course with those useless lot )
The Assembly is useless, and now they are seeking approval for even more AMs. You could not make it up.
If this activity, using Wild Animals, is legally licenced, or permits issued by the Welsh Assemblky, then someone there ought to get a grip. It also appears from this report that to `perform` and to `cage` wild animals in England requires a `current` DEFRA licence, which this outfit does not have, but that makes no difference because no such safeguarding regulation is required in Wales.
I am beginning to think that Paul has a point in respect to Welsh Assembly priorities, they do need to get real, get proactive, and get it right or lose support from the Welsh Electorate, and lets not forget that ALL political parties have responsibility, some, because they are in Government, and all the others equally,because, they are in a position of scrutiny of what the Welsh Government is doing at all times and in respect to every decision made, none can abdicate responsibility.