The French parliament has voted to end the use of wild animals in circus performances from 2023, spelling an end to performing tigers, lions, or bears. Violators will be fined and even imprisoned. The French parliament outlawed mink farming, in new animal rights legislation hailed as a step forward by campaigners.
In two years, the use of tigers, lions, bears, and other wild animals will become illegal in France, and all wildlife shows must be closed. In addition, in seven years, it will become illegal to own “circus” animals. Not only the circus is covered by the law: mink breeding and dolphin shows will be banned, Platfor.ma reports.
French Social Liberal Party “Forward, Republic!” calls it a “historic step in the struggle for animal rights.” However, the ban has caused controversy – and on both sides. Yes, legislative changes have been condemned by circus owners and some environmentalists. According to the latter, this is simply not enough. According to them, the mistake is that such phenomena as bullfighting and hunting were not banned.
In any case, under the new law, people convicted of animal cruelty will receive a fine of 75,000 euros and imprisonment for up to five years.
France bans wild circus animals and mink farms, but not bullfighting
Performances involving wild animals will be prohibited in two years, in legislation hailed by campaigners.
Performances of wild animals such as lions, tigers, or bears will be prohibited in two years, and owning them outlawed in seven years, under the wide-ranging law passed on November 16.
Once signed into law by the president, Emmanuel Macron, the new regulations will also ban live dolphin shows and mink farming, meaning the country’s last mink producer will close.
Macron’s centrist Republic on the Move (LREM) party called the legislation “a historic step in the animal rights combat”, while former actor and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot welcomed “a major advance”.
Circus owners denounced it, however, while some campaigners said it did not go far enough.
As well as the measures targeting circuses, the new law will raise the maximum penalty for mistreating animals to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($85,000), and will tighten restrictions on the sale of pets.
Loïc Dombreval, the LREM co-sponsor of the law, conceded that other controversial issues had not been included within the scope of the legislation, which won cross-party support in both houses of parliament.
“There will inevitably come a day when … we will debate sensitive issues such as hunting, such as bullfighting, or some animal-rearing practices,” said the lawmaker, who is also a veterinarian.
Polls show that a vast majority of French people support the ban on wild circus animals, and dozens of cities and towns around the country already bar them.
Public opinion in Europe has moved decisively against animal circuses, once a popular form of family entertainment, following revelations about cruel treatment and campaigning from rights groups.
Several events in France in recent years have added momentum for the ban, including the death of a sickly performing bear called Mischa in 2019 that had been rescued from animal trainers, as well as the shooting of an escaped tiger in Paris in 2017.
The female tiger, named Mevy, escaped from her enclosure at the Cirque Bormann-Moreno and began roaming the streets of the French capital before being gunned down by her owner in the name of public safety.
France lags behind around 20 European countries that have either banned or heavily restricted the use of animals for entertainment.
Environmentalists and more radical animal rights groups had wanted the new law to improve the conditions inside industrial animal farms.
The group L214, which had sought protections for the “more than a billion intensely farmed animals” in France, welcomed the legislation but said it “lacked courage”.
The group has made a name for itself in France by sending its activists undercover into abattoirs and then publishing videos of the often shocking scenes of animals being mistreated or cut up while still alive.
Farms that make foie gras pate in France – which force feed birds such as geese and ducks to artificially bloat their livers – have also long been targeted by campaigners, but their operations will not be changed by the new law.
Hunting is staunchly defended by supporters as a traditional rural pastime that is essential to keep animal populations under control, while bullfighting remains part of local culture in some southern French towns.
The 120 circus owners in France are likely to protest against the new restrictions and have warned that some animals might end up abandoned.
“It’s an arbitrary law because there are not mistreated animals in our circuses,” William Kerwich, head of the circus animal trainers’ union, told AFP.
He said there would be a reaction from his members on Monday, and a legal appeal.
Performances of wild animals will be prohibited in two years and owning them outlawed in seven years, under the wide-ranging animal rights legislation that has been under debate since 2020.
The law, once signed by President Emmanuel Macron, will also ban live dolphin shows in the next five years and immediately end mink farming, meaning the country’s last operator will close.
Macron’s centrist Republic on the Move (LREM) party called the legislation “a historic step in the animal rights combat”.
Circus owners denounced it, while some environmentalists said it did not go far enough.
The foundation of France’s most famous animal advocate, veteran actress Brigitte Bardot, welcomed “a major advance for the animal rights cause in France”.
As well as the measures targeting circuses, the new law will raise the maximum penality for mistreating animals to up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($85,000), and will tighten restrictions on the sale of pets.
Loïc Dombreval, the LREM co-sponsor of the law, conceded that other controversial issues had not been included within the scope of the legislation, which won cross-party support in both houses of parliament.
“There will inevitably come a day when… we will debate sensitive issues such as hunting, such as bull-fighting, or some animal-rearing practices,” said the lawmaker, who is also a veterinarian.
‘Arbitrary law’
Environmentalists had called for measures to improve the conditions inside industrialized animal farms, which will require “a change in our agricultural model,” Senator Daniel Salmon said on November 16.
Issues such as hunting and bullfighting are especially sensitive because they are staunchly defended by supporters in rural areas as long-standing cultural practices.
The new legislation also bans the use of wild animals in television shows, nightclubs, and private parties.
Polls show that a vast majority of French people support the law, and dozens of cities and towns around the country have already banned traveling circuses that use animals.
The changes will bring France into step with more than 20 European countries that have either banned or heavily restricted the use of animals for entertainment.
