13 Dec Wild Legal France
A snake swallowed a golf ball and died to AFP. He joins several rescued animals returning to the wild. That means wild animal shows in circuses will be banned in two years and possession banned in seven years, an issue that has been under discussion since 2020. The movement to end the use of wildlife in live performances is also gaining momentum in the United States. Last week, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) reintroduced the Traveling Exotic Animals and Public Safety Protection Act in Congress. The bill would amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit travelling circuses and acts from using wild animals. Animal shows to be banned in two years, law hailed by activists In mid-November, the French parliament passed a comprehensive animal welfare law banning shows involving wild animals such as lions and bears, as well as private ownership of these animals. In addition, the law prohibits live dolphin shows and mink breeding. The France`s message is clear: wild animals have no place in circuses or human homes, dolphins do not exist in our entertainment, and fur is not fashionable.
In addition, several States have banned or restricted the use of wildlife in travel activities. California bans the use of nearly all animals (except dogs, cats, and domestic horses) in circuses, while Hawaii, New Jersey, and Colorado prohibit the use of wild animals or certain wildlife in circuses and traveling shows. New York and Illinois prohibit the use of elephants in travel activities. Finally, Rhode Island has a hook ban that acts as a de facto ban on the use of elephants in shows because “trainers” rely on these cruel devices to control them. Every year, several state legislators consider banning the use of wild animals in circuses. If you live in Massachusetts, please take a moment to urge your legislators to support an important bill currently under consideration in your state. (October 7, 2020) On 29 September 2020, the French government announced several measures to improve the welfare of wild animals in captivity. According to a speech by the Minister of Environmental Transition, Barbara Pompili, the breeding of mink because of their fur will be banned until 2025.
In the meantime, no new mink farms will be approved. Although circuses that exploit animals have declined over the past decade, several circuses and traveling acts with animals still tour the United States or the region. The federal law governing circuses that use wild animals – the Animal Welfare Act – provides minimal protection and is chronically unenforced. Legislation is urgently needed to protect wildlife from exploitation. Circuses and other travelling shows must not have wild animals whose welfare is incompatible with frequent travel. These include big cats such as lions and tigers, but also monkeys, bears, wolves or animals that need large amounts of water, such as hippos, sea lions and elephants. The breeding of these animals in captivity is also prohibited. He said there would be a response from his members and a legal appeal on Monday. France`s parliament has voted to end the use of wild animals in live circus shows and ban mink farming, in new animal rights legislation hailed by campaigners as progress. In addition, shows featuring wild animals will be prohibited. In particular, the possession of killer whales for entertainment purposes will be banned until 2022, and the possession of dolphins for entertainment will be prohibited until 2027.
While businesses currently licensed to host orca and dolphin shows can do so until 2022 and 2027, respectively, no new permits will be issued. In addition, the breeding of whales in captivity is immediately prohibited. French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot on Thursday welcomed a vote by lawmakers to end the practice of wild animals such as tigers, lions or bears used in live circus shows. While the bill avoids the controversial issues of hunting and bullfighting, it does provide harsher penalties for pet cruelty. The new legislation also prohibits the use of wild animals in TV shows, nightclubs and private parties. These measures are the result of discussions initiated in spring 2019 between the Ministry of Environmental Transition, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry representatives, elected officials and experts on the physiological needs and well-being of wildlife in captivity. Minister Pompili`s announcement was generally welcomed by animal rights groups, PETA France, calling it “a big step in the right direction”. The announced measures are also likely to be popular with the public, as a 2019 poll found that 65% of respondents opposed the use of wild animals in circus shows. However, some animal rights activists criticized the announcement as too vague on many points. As the NGO One Voice pointed out, the government has not specified which legal instruments such as regulations or laws will support the planned measures.
It should be noted, however, that the measures announced by Minister Pompili are largely part of a broader bill submitted to Parliament on 25 August 2020. This law goes much further than Minister Pompili`s announcement: in addition to banning non-pet shows within five years, it would ban not only mink farming, but all animals because of their fur. The bill would also ban certain types of hunting, including hunting with packs of dogs, and gradually ban the keeping of poultry, hogs and other farm animals in cages.