Dangerous animals law 'won't be enough'
Call for circuses to be covered by plan
By Kim Kelly in the Belfast Telegraph 7 th November 2003
PROPOSED new legislation to regulate the keeping of
dangerous wild animals in Northern Ireland does not go far enough to protect the
public, it was claimed today.
The Dangerous Wild Animals (NI) Order 2004, which is currently going through
a consultation process, is aiming to introduce new laws to protect the public
and safeguard the welfare of wild animals.
At present no legislation exists to prevent anyone from keeping exotic pets
in Ulster and USPCA shelters are now home to tigers, lions and wolves rescued
from unsuitable living condition.
However, the proposals that will make it illegal for anyone to own wild
animals without a licence and give the Department of Agriculture powers of entry
and inspection to premises where exotic animals are kept does not extend to
circuses in Northern Ireland.
Former Assembly member for East Londonderry David McClarty believes circuses
must be made to follow the same new laws in the interests of public safety.
"Zoos are subject to recent legislation regarding wild animals. However, at
this stage no specific controls are in place to control dangerous wild animals
in circuses.
"We are leaving ourselves open to problems with circuses with dangerous
animals travelling freely through Ulster towns which may be kept in poor or
unsecured conditions.
"We do not want a repeat of the summer in north Antrim where considerable
resources were spent attempting to catch an escaped puma and panther which were
on the loose as a direct result of Northern Ireland having no legislation about
the keeping of exotic pets."
The Government came under extreme pressure during the summer months to
introduce legislation in Northern Ireland similar to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act
in operation in Great Britain.
The release of two wild cats in the north Antrim countryside in August by a
private owner who was unwilling to care for them sparked a huge six-week search
by USPCA and PSNI officers.
Hundreds of police man-hours were taken up tracking the wild cats after
carcasses of cattle were found in remote farmland.
Rural dwellers refused to let their children play outdoors for fear of a big
cat attack after experts failed to catch the wild animals.
USPCA figures reveal that there are at least five other wild cats roaming the
Ulster countryside and concerned Co Antrim farmers who lost livestock
demanded that laws be put in place immediately to prevent further incidents.
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