Britain Bans Wild Animals in Traveling Circuses

After years of pressure from animal rights activists, British authorities have passed a law that will forbid traveling circuses from using wild animals. According to the statute, any animal that is not normally raised in Britain in a domestic setting is categorized as wild. The circuses will have until 2015 to comply with a law; agriculture minister David Heath noted that this delay allows circuses to rework their businesses and find suitable arrangements for the animals they currently use. “This is a victory for animal welfare and common sense,” says British politician Tory Mark Pritchard, “and proves that politicians who have belief, stick to their principles, and persevere despite hostile opposition, can still shape events.”