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The use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Wales is now officially banned.

The Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act was passed by the Senedd in July and given Royal Assent in September, and became law on Tuesday (December 1).

The bill was first introduced last year, after more than 6,500 people responded to a public consultation on the issue, with 97% supporting the ban.

Wild animals are already banned in travelling circuses in Scotland and England.

David Bowles, RSPCA head of public affairs, said: “This is a historic day for animal welfare in Wales – and concludes a campaign we have worked on for many, many years.

“We’ve had overwhelming public support for this campaign – and the voice of those supporters was so important in helping secure this legislation; which means the spectre of wild animals being performed or exhibited in travelling circuses in Wales is finally – once and for all – consigned to the history books.

“It’s a great advert for what we can achieve together for animal welfare. “

Mr Bowles added: “There was strong cross-party support for this campaign in the Senedd – and we were pleased to work closely with the Welsh Government and Members of the Senedd too to give wild animals this vital extra protection in law.”

RSPCA’s senior scientific manager, Ros Clubb, who specialises in captive wild animals, said: “Forced training, unsuitable accommodation, difficult journeys and unnatural social groupings are all a grim reality for these animals – but thankfully, this law will make all the difference in Wales.”