Wild Animals in Captivity Protection Act 1900
The Wild Animals in Captivity Protection Act 1900, was an act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, given royal assent on 6 August 1900 and since repealed.
Section 1 of the act provided that the act covered any animals not encompassed by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1849 and the Cruelty to Animals Act 1854.
Section 2 of the act made it an offence to cause, or permit to be caused, any unnecessary suffering to such an animal held in captivity.
Section 3 of the act provided that to "cruelly abuse, infuriate, tease, or terrify" it, or to permit another to do so, was also an offence. The penalty was imprisonment with or without hard labour for up to three months, or a fine of up to five pounds.
Section 3 of the act provided that action done in the course of killing or preparing an animal for food was exempt, as was any act permitted by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, or the hunting of any animal provided that it had not been released in a mutilated or injured state.
Subsequent developments
The act was extended to Scotland by the Wild Animals in Captivity Protection (Scotland) Act 1909.The act was repealed for England and Wales and Northern Ireland by section 18 of, and the second schedule to, the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and for Scotland by section 18 of the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912.