It was an image which caused outrage across Scotland in 2014: the sight of lions and tigers locked in cages in freezing conditions in Fraserburgh.
The felines were being kept there by circus owner, Thomas Chipperfield, whose family have been involved in this branch of entertainment for centuries.
And although he argued the creatures were being well looked after, the clamour was joined by such leading figures as One Foot in the Grave star, Annette Crosbie.
She, like many others, called for the Scottish Government to quickly bring in a ban on wild animals in circuses.
And now, the Scottish Government will try to legislate on the issue when MSPs start debating the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood today.
The movement to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses was introduced in May 2017, following a government consultation which revealed significant opposition – more than 90% in some surveys – among the public.
After being scrutinised by the environment, climate change and land reform committee, a number of recommendations were made by the committee in their recently published report to avoid “misinterpretation” and “ambiguity”.
Its convenor, Graeme Dey MSP, has confirmed the committee “is fully supportive of Scotland’s ambition to be the first part of the UK to ban wild animals in travelling circuses”.
If the bill is eventually passed, Scotland will become the first UK nation to adopt legislation prohibiting animal circus acts, joining over 20 European countries, and 40 around the world, with similar restrictions in place.
Although legislation to prohibit wild animals in circuses in England has been drafted and scrutinised, the UK Government has yet to move forward, amidst opposition from some of its back benchers.
Supporters of the proposals have urged MSPs to make progress where it has stalled elsewhere in the country.
Jan Creamer, president of campaign group, Animal Defenders International, said yesterday: “The public has made it abundantly clear they want to see wild animal circus acts consigned to the past.
“Now, their elected representatives need to make it happen. ADI calls on MSPs to rally behind the government bill and make Scotland the first nation in the UK to finally act on this issue.”
Many north-MSPs seem to support the move, though there are differences of opinion about how the ban should be introduced.
Labour’s Lewis Macdonald, said: “This bill will have broad support, although it is important that it is drafted carefully.
“Its purpose must be to ensure there are no wild animals which are suffering neglect or distress while they are with touring circuses.
“At the same time, the bill must not penalise responsible education projects or well-managed wildlife parks.
“Scottish Labour will therefore scrutinise this bill carefully, but we support the principle and we would therefore hope we are able to vote for the bill when it completes its passage through parliament.”
Aberdeenshire East SNP MSP Gillian Martin said: “As an animal lover, I understand completely the concern that people have about ensuring the welfare of wild animals.
“The Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill plans to ensure that cases like the one seen in Fraserburgh a few years ago are not allowed to happen.
“While the overwintering of animals will still be permitted, and high welfare standards will apply to their treatment and accommodation, the proposed bill means they will not be able to showcase the animals for any form of commercialisation.
“This is an important step in protecting these animals and making sure they are not taken advantage of.”
But Mr Chipperfield has previously argued he is 100% committed to doing the best for the creatures who are used in their circuses.
He was not available for comment yesterday, but responded to the Fraserburgh furore in 2014 by stating: “Animal shows help us to learn about wild creatures. There is no ethical reason to outlaw them.
“Animal rights advocates are always surprised when I tell them I’m just as much an animal lover as they are. But, as the only big cat trainer working in the British circus industry, that is how I see myself.
“I have lived around, fed, cleaned out and trained animals all my life and I can’t imagine anyone doing what I do if they didn’t love animals.
“But the animal rights organisations campaigning to ban circus animals don’t care how well I look after my lions and tigers.”
His words were echoed by Martin Burton of the Association of Circus Proprietors, who has told MSPs that a law based on the proposed ethical grounds “will eventually close zoos”.
Mr Burton claimed that a lack of clarity in the legislation about what constitutes a travelling circus and the definition of a wild animal, along with the emphasis on ethics, could have far-reaching consequences.
He said: “The economic impact on animal displays in shopping centres, on displays at outdoors shows of hawks and wild birds, on reindeer and Santa, and eventually zoos will be massive.
“Once you start banning things, particularly on ethical grounds, it is clear that this will spread, because if it’s ethically not right to have a wild animal in a circus, then it is ethically not right to have a wild animal appear at a gala or a county show, and it is ethically not right to have a wild animal appear in a shopping centre, and it is ethically not right to have a wild animal appear in a zoo.
“It is clear and logical that that is the only way an ethical ban can go.
“You can’t choose your ethics: you are either going to say it is ethical or it is not ethical.”
Peter Jolly’s Circus
The original row arose in November 2014 when it emerged Thomas Chipperfield was wintering two lions and three tigers at Circus High School at Cairnglass, near Fraserburgh.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claimed life for the lions and tigers at the school was “grim”.
A spokesman said: “Life in Peter Jolly’s Circus, or any circus, is no life at all for animals.
“Tigers and lions shun contact with humans and can only be trained to perform silly tricks through dominance, fear and beatings.
“Being held in cages at the Circus High School is a grim existence indeed.”
However, Mr Chipperfield insisted the allegations were unfounded and said: “That is a very bold statement to make without any evidence. All I can do is provide my animals as proof I don’t mistreat them because of their health both physically and mentally.
“We’ve always passed inspections. That, along with my animal welfare and public safety record, is spotless.”
Aberdeenshire Council confirmed their officers and a vet had visited the animals and everything at the school was above board.