Reptile market to stop after animal rights group pressure
The events allowed reptile owners to buy and sell animals
At a glance
A reptile market at Doncaster Racecourse will not go ahead after June following pressure from an animal rights group
The council said the Animal Protection Agency had worked "tirelessly" to end the events
It claimed animals were kept in poor conditions during the shows
Organisers International Herpetological Society said the end of the events was down to "a campaign of harassment" by activists
- Published
One of the UK's last reptile markets is to stop after a campaign by an animal rights group.
The Animal Protection Agency (APA) said it was "delighted" it had convinced Doncaster Council to end the show, with the final event taking place at Doncaster Racecourse on 19 June.
The group claimed the wild animals were treated like "inanimate commodities" being displayed and sold in small, plastic takeaway tubs.
The International Herpetological Society, which organised the event, said it was "saddened" to be leaving the town, which it blamed on "a campaign of harassment" by activists.
The APA called the decision by the council to not renew the contract with the organiser as a "historic breakthrough".
The group has worked for several years with councils across the country to clamp down on reptile markets.
"APA has worked tirelessly and professionally to end potentially illegal trading," councillor David Shaw, chair of Doncaster Council's licensing committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
"Whilst I accept that many exotic animal keepers care for their animals, I find this business abhorrent and something that should not take place in the UK - and certainly not in Doncaster."
Animals at the show were kept in plastic containers, it was claimed
Trading in pet animals at market stalls was outlawed almost 40 years ago on the grounds that "animal welfare cannot be ensured in temporary and makeshift environments", the APA said.
A spokesperson said the country was "now closer than ever" to stopping wild animal markets.
Richard Brook, from the International Herpetological Society, said once the contract with the racecourse expired in June, it would not be allowed to book further events.
"This is due to a campaign of harassment of the racecourse and Doncaster Council by animal rights activists," he said.
"Whilst it saddens the International Herpetological Society to be leaving Doncaster after nearly two decades, this is purely due to corporate bullying by animal rights extremists."
He added he hoped the group would be able to secure a venue for future events.
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