How many wild or exotic animals are there currently in UK circuses?
The number varies from year to year and there is no register of what is on the road. During the summer of 2008, 34 wild or exotic animals were touring with just three circuses: Bobby Roberts Super Circus: 1 Camel, 1 Elephant, (plus 9 horses and ponies) Great British Circus: 7 Tigers, 4 Lions, 6 Camels, 1 Zebra, 2 Reindeers, 2 Llamas, (plus 9 horses, ponies and donkeys, 2 dogs) Peter Jolly’s Circus: 4 Snakes, 1 Camel, 1 Zebra, 1 Bull, 1 Fox, 2 llamas (plus 18 Horses ponies and donkeys, 8 dogs, 7 Pigeons, 2 Goats, 3 Geese) Jolly’s bear, Ming, the UK’s last performing bear, died in 2007 and has not yet been replaced. Q: Will the use of wild animals in circuses die out naturally? A: No. The decline in animal circuses appears to have levelled out to a small audience, sustaining a handful of operations. If anything, the number of wild animal acts in circuses is likely to rise if the industry believes the Government will not act. This year the Great British Circus have been breeding tigers an
