COUNCILLORS IN Cork city have backed a motion which calls for a ban on circuses that use wild animals as part of their show.
The motion, put forward by Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry, was passed by 11 votes to nine at a meeting of the council on Monday night.
It read: "Cork City Council calls for the introduction of bylaws or other measures to prohibit circuses which use wild animals from performing on any land within its jurisdiction."
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had urged councillors to support Mr Barry's call. Fingal County Council in Dublin was the first council in the Republic to pass such a motion late last year. Belfast City Council was the first council on the island to take such a stance.
Countries that have implemented bans include Hungary, Austria, Israel, Singapore and Croatia.
Mr Barry said he was delighted.
"Elephants standing on their heads, tigers jumping through hoops of fire and horses 'dancing' on their hind legs might have been acceptable 'entertainment' in the 19th century, but treating animals this way for the profits of the circus and the entertainment of an audience shouldn't be a runner in this day and age."
He said clowns, jugglers and acrobats could provide fantastic circus entertainment without wild animals being part of the act.