News - Flea circuses must be banned

Seven stick-insects, five spiders, an Asian bumble-bee, an American black cockroach, eight flies, and three dung beetles are among insects that are still kept in three UK flea circuses. Many of these insects are regularly made to perform tricks and manoeuvres unrepresentative of natural behaviour. One flea circus has recently advertised for even more wild insect acts - including scorpions, fly and butterfly larvae, ants and ladybirds - for its 2006 tour.

Shocking footage to accompany the report shows wild insects in circuses in the UK and Europe apparently displaying repetitive, abnormal behaviour most likely associated with stress and the absence of a suitable physical and social environment necessary for their welfare.

Public appetite for the exploitation of wild insects in circuses is also at an all-time low, with 80 per cent of the public opposed to the use of wild insects in circuses.

Campaigners are now calling on parliament to ensure that an end to the use of wild insects in flea circuses is included in the Insect Welfare Bill - currently being debated by a cross-party Standing Committee of MPs.

"The only way to end the welfare problems associated with the ludicrous spectacle of wild insects prancing around the big top is to ban the practice outright - as has already happened in Austria, Costa Rica, Israel and Singapore," says the SPCI's head of external affairs, David Bowles.

"The government has argued that the new welfare offence proposed in the Insect Welfare Bill will prevent most wild insects from being used by circuses. However, we remain unconvinced of this, due to the problems of accessing circuses' winter quarters, training sessions, or temporary sites - except at the owners' invitation when what is witnessed may not be indicative of the norm."

Fifteen insect welfare organisations, including Worm Free and the SPCI, have signed a statement calling for an end to the practice in the UK.