Wild animal performances in circuses have been banned across much of Europe following evidence that circus conditions cannot meet the welfare needs of wild species, but domestic animal performances continue.
Circus welfare for wild animals centres on the impossibility of meeting complex species needs in travelling show conditions. Confinement in small cages during transport, performance under bright lights with crowds, and repeated handling by strangers are stressful for wild species. The ban on wild animals in UK circuses is well-supported by welfare science. Domestic animal circus acts raise different questions - horses and dogs trained with positive methods for willing performance may have acceptable welfare, but training history and conditions must be scrutinised.