Tiger "Rajah" bit off the arm of his trainer from the famed Chipperfield circus

"The prolonged periods spent by these wild animals in the cages and containers used to transport and hold them may compromise their welfare," it said.

The AVA said it was giving a year's notice to minimise disruption to circus schedules, but stricter measures on the keeping of wild animals would be imposed in the meantime.

Circuses have come under increasing pressure by animal welfare groups, which argue that circuses confine animals to small cages and often subject them to abuse.

In July this year, a coalition of US animal welfare groups filed a suit against a circus, claiming that trainers routinely subjected baby Asian elephants to beatings and other "inhumane" treatment.