Mexico Bans Wild Animals In Circuses
In a huge victory for animals, Mexico has passed legislation banning the use of wild animals in circuses, becoming the 29th nation to introduce an animal circus prohibition and heralding one of the biggest ever breakthroughs in the campaign to stop circus suffering.
The ban, which is now awaiting the signature of the President to become law, was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives with 267 votes in favour, 76 against and 40 abstentions.
Senator Jorge Emilio González Martínez (PVEM) proposed the measure last year as an amendment to Mexico’s environmental and wildlife law, General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection. Those found guilty of committing an offence under the new legislation face huge fines of 50 to 50,000 times the minimum wage – the equivalent of nearly $225,000 / £150,000. The Green Party in Mexico has asked ADI to begin highlighting the law throughout Mexico.
As abuse has been exposed in circuses, legislation has begun to sweep the world. A two-year undercover investigation by ADI in South American circuses has been key in securing bans in nine Latin American countries.
This ban is a landmark in ending the suffering of animals in the name of entertainment. We are seeing progressive legislation to end the use of wild animals in circuses sweeping the world and it is now time for countries like Britain and United States to catch up.
Here is a list of how other countries stand on the baning of animals in circuses:
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 camel 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
Czech Republic: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses
Cyprus: Nationwide ban on all animals 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 animals in circuses in Drogheda, Fingal, Galway City, Kildare, Monaghan, Moyle, South Dublin and Waterford
Malta: Nationwide ban on all animals for performances, exhibitions, shows or training for the circus
The Netherlands: Nationwide ban on the use and transport of animals in circuses, with exemptions for certain, mostly domestic, species
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
UK: 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
NORTH AMERICA
USA: 49 partial or full bans on circus animals in municipalities in the US, in 22 states
Canada: Local bans on the use of animals in circuses in 28 municipal jurisdictions
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
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
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 camel 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
Czech Republic: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses
Cyprus: Nationwide ban on all animals 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 animals in circuses in Drogheda, Fingal, Galway City, Kildare, Monaghan, Moyle, South Dublin and Waterford
Malta: Nationwide ban on all animals for performances, exhibitions, shows or training for the circus
The Netherlands: Nationwide ban on the use and transport of animals in circuses, with exemptions for certain, mostly domestic, species
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
UK: 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
NORTH AMERICA
USA: 49 partial or full bans on circus animals in municipalities in the US, in 22 states
Canada: Local bans on the use of animals in circuses in 28 municipal jurisdictions
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
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