Minister seeks circus animal ban

THE Agriculture Minister plans to submit a proposal to the Cabinet requesting a ban on circuses that use wild animals in their shows.

Minister Michalis Polynikis said he had reached this decision after realising the methods used to train these animals to do their various tricks “verged on the barbaric”.

The minister was responding to Green Party MP George Perdikis, who raised the issue.

“With the aim of banning the use of animals in circuses that present shows in Cyprus, as well as any other kind of shows with animals in them, the Ministry has made the decision to request legal regulations by initially promoting a proposal to the Cabinet for the formation of a policy,” said Polynikis.

To achieve this aim, the ministry will cooperate with the Veterinary Services and Environmental Services.

Most countries in the EU have boycotted circuses that use wild animals. However, the EU has not yet issued regulations involving the protection of circus animals.

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