The image of wild animals kept in barren zoo enclosures with concrete floors and no enrichment; elephants shackled to the floor before and after their ‘performance’ in the circus ring; a dolphin trained to balance a ball; a monkey dressed as superman paraded on a leash and used for souvenir photographs: real images some would associate, perhaps, with Mexico or countries in Asia, but these are examples of wild animals exploited in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of wild animals are kept in unacceptable conditions and used in demeaning performances to ‘entertain’ the European public.

Despite the European Treaty omitting to protect the wellbeing of animals in the European Union, there is a Protocol, adopted by the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997, that recognises all animals as sentient beings that can experience pain, suffering and distress. Although the Protocol is neither a requirement by Member States nor enforceable, twenty-five laws have been adopted by the Council of Ministers in Europe (which European Members States are obliged to implement) that protect the wellbeing of animals. Six are exclusive to wild animals, but only two laws (8% of animal protection law) are specific to wild animals in captivity: <link> - Council Directive 1992/22/EC aims to promote wild animal species protection and conservation and requires zoos to aim to satisfy the biological needs of individual animal species. In addition, COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1739/2005 lays down animal health requirements for the movement of circus animals between Member States.

In 2006 the UK-based international wild animal welfare and conservation organisation, the Born Free Foundation, founded the coalition, ENDCAP, specifically to address the persistent poor standards of welfare for captive wild animals in Europe and to encourage like-minded organisations to work together to seek greater protection. In 2007, ENDCAP brought the issue to Europe, acknowledging that although 75% of national law is decided in Europe, negligible protection is given to wild animals. Lobbying the European Institutions is vital in achieving our objectives to increase the protection of wild animals in captivity in Europe. In October 2007, ENDCAP held a press conference and reception at the European Parliament that officially launched the initiative Europe’s forgotten animals.