CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS

Early day motion 54, tabled 7 December 2000 by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 95 members.

That this House notes that in 1998 the Captive Animals Protection Society revealed that electric shock devices or goads were being used in the training and management of the elephants at Blackpool Zoo; further notes that subsequent inquiries led the CAPS to believe that this was not an isolated case and that many zoos and safari parks in the United Kingdom have such devices; condemns the lack of protection given to captive elephants in the Zoo Licensing Act 1981; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to give elephants greater protection by amending the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 to prohibit discipline by means of (a) deprivation of food, water, or rest, (b) the use of electric shocks (eg by an electric goad) for training, (c) physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring, or breakage of the skin and (d) insertion of any instrument into any bodily orifice (eg hooks in mouth) and to prohibit members of the public from riding captive elephants with any breach of these conditions, being treated as a criminal offence punishable by law.

Signatures by party: Labour 64, Liberal Democrat 21, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 1, Unknown 1.