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In a moving article written on behalf of PETA, Sir Roger Moore – the beloved actor, humanitarian and animal advocate – urges prime minister Theresa May to introduce legislation banning wild-animal circuses.
In the piece, published in Sunday People, he writes that other countries around the world have put an end to wild-animal circuses, while ‘ever-so-civilised, animal-loving Britain still allows these archaic exhibitions simply because of a lack of action on the part of Downing Street.’
He adds that ‘popular legislation to prohibit circuses from keeping tigers in see-through boxes called cages and carting them about the land has been dragging on for aeons, because the Prime Minister holds the key and won’t give it up… Wilfully allowing such cruelty is unforgivable’.
Referring to former Prime Minister David Cameron’s broken promise to prohibit the practice by January 2015, Moore continues, ‘No matter what else one may think of him, [he] proved himself no gentleman when he failed to act on his word to get wild animals out of circuses… despite overwhelming public approval of a ban, including support from the British Veterinary Association’.
The famed 007 actor goes on to make May an offer: ‘Madam Prime Minister, it’s time – past time – to do the right thing by animals and the public and finally bring in a ban on this outdated form of so-called ‘entertainment’. I will put a bottle of Dom Pérignon ’52 or Bollinger ’69 on ice for the occasion and gladly pop the cork with you.’
‘Wild animals in real life must feel as if they’ve been captured by the fictional Dr No. When they’re not being forced to perform confusing tricks under threat of the whip they’re chained up or tied down.
‘They’re denied everything that gives their lives meaning.
It’s no wonder that they develop abnormal and disturbing behaviour, such as incessantly biting the bars of their cages, pacing back and forth or even self-mutilating.’
SIR ROGER MOORE
Letter to Theresa May
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that ‘animals are not ours to use for entertainment’ – notes that wild animals in circuses spend their lives confined to cages or trailers when they’re not being bullied into performing tricks. They commonly endure abuse and are denied the opportunity to engage in natural behaviour.
Moore joins Michael Sheen, Martin Freeman and Ann Widdecombe in teaming up with PETA to raise awareness of the plight of animals in circuses.
Click here to sign the petition calling on Theresa May to ban wild-animal circuses.
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