Worldwide Summary
Measures to prohibit or limit the use of animals in circuses
Written by: Animal Defense International
ADI website
WORLDWIDE SUMMARY
Measures to prohibit or limit the use of animals in circuses have already been adopted in Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Malta, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan and The Netherlands and similar laws are being discussed in the UK, Brazil and Chile.
NORTH AMERICA
USA: 49 partial or full bans on circus animals in municipalities in the US, in 22 states. (A ‘partial’ ban or restriction includes restrictions on specific species, or types of performance, or certain uses of animals or animal management practices (such as use of elephant hooks)).
These include (at June 2014):-
Arkansas – Sherwood; California – Corona, Encinitas, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Los Angeles, Marin County, Oakland, Pasadena, Rohnert Park, Santa Ana, West Hollywood; Colorado – Boulder; Connecticut – Stamford; Florida – Clearwater, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Margate, Miami Beach, Pompano Beach, Tallahassee, Weston; Georgia – Fulton County; Hawaii – Maui County; Idadho – Ketchum; Illinois – Collinsville; Indiana – Fort Wayne, St John, Kansas – Douglas County; Massachusetts – Braintree, Plymouth, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Weymouth Provincetown; Missouri – Richmond; New York – Greenburgh, Southampton; North Carolina – Orange County, Chapel Hill;Ohio; Oregon – Clatsop County; South Carolina – Chester; Aiken County, Texas – Simonton; Vermont – Burlington; Washington – Port Townsend, Redmond; Wisconsin – Dane County, Green Bay.
Canada: Local bans on the use of animals in circuses in 28 municipal jurisdictions including Vancouver.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina: Local bans on the use of wild animals in circuses in over 20 cities including a ban in the city of Buenos Aires
Bolivia: Nationwide ban on the use of wild and domestic animals in circuses
Brazil: Local bans on the use of wild and domestic animals in circuses in the districts of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Pernambuco, Paraiba, Rio Grande do Sul, Espiritu Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Alagoas and a number of bans in cities within another four Brazilian states
Chile: Local bans on the use of wild and domestic animals in circuses in the city of Santiago
Colombia: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses; Local ban on the use of animals in circuses in the capital, Bogota
Costa Rica: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses
Ecuador: Nationwide ban on the use of native wild animals; restrictions on the use of exotic animals; ban on the import of both native and exotic wild animals with circuses
El Salvador: Nationwide ban on the “Income, use or abuse of wildlife species in all kinds of entertainment”
Mexico: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses
Panama: Nationwide ban prohibiting “entry of wild animals for use in static and travelling circuses and similar shows”
Paraguay: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses
Peru: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses as well as a local ban on all animals in Magdalena del Mar
EUROPE
Austria: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses
Belgium: Nationwide ban on the use of most wild animals in circuses (Parrots and camels are classed as domestic)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nationwide ban on ALL animals in circuses
Bulgaria: Nationwide ban on certain wild animal species in circuses, variety shows and other entertainment facilities
Croatia: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses
Cyprus: Nationwide ban on all animals in circuses
Czech Republic: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses
Denmark: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses
Estonia: Nationwide ban on the use of wild-born animals in circuses
Finland: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses
Greece: Nationwide ban on ALL animals in circuses
Hungary: Nationwide ban on the use of wild caught animals in circuses, the purchase and training of elephants and primates for circus performances and the purchase, training and use of CITES (Appendix 1) listed species in circuses
Ireland: Local bans on the use of wild animals in circuses in Drogheda, Fingal, Galway City, Kildare, Monaghan, Moyle, South Dublin and Waterford
Malta: Nationwide ban on ALL animals in circuses
The Netherlands: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses
Norway: Local ban on wild or exotic animal shows in Tromsø municipality
Poland: Nationwide ban on the use of wild-born animals in circuses
Portugal: Nationwide ban restricting the use of great apes in circuses and the acquisition and breeding of CITES listed species
Slovenia: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses
Spain: Local bans on the use of wild animals in circuses in several towns including Barcelona
Sweden: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses
United Kingdom: Over 200 local authorities have bans on animal circuses (more than two thirds of these ban all performing animals, the remainder ban just wild animals). A Government commitment to ban the use of wild animals in circuses – this is yet to be enacted.
OCEANIA
Australia: Local bans on the use of animals in circuses in several towns including Hobsons Bay, Surf Coast Shire, Parramata and Lismore
ASIA
India: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses.
Israel: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.
Singapore: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.
Taiwan: Nationwide prohibition on the import or export of protected wildlife for circuses.
Note: We added Provincetown to the list for Massachusetts which bans the display of wild animals.