Catalonia, The First Spanish Community To Ban Animal Circuses
According to information published in various media, the Parliament of Catalonia a few weeks ago passed a law banning animal circuses.
The initiative was promoted by Associação Animalist LIBERA! and by the Franz Weber Foundation (FFW) through the Catalonia Free Circus Animal movement CLAC.
CLAC said in a press release that “ The law, approved by 79% of the camera, would enter into force within two years to allow the circus industry to adapt to this new legislative reality (…).”
The law was passed with the votes of CiU, ERC, PSC and ICV-EUiA, while Ciutadans abstained and PPC voted against.
It is noteworthy that with this new law, Catalonia joins others for countries like Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Switzerland that have already banned the use of animals in the circus.
Background of laws prohibiting the use of animals in circuses
The city of Barcelona, in 2003, had already passed a similar bill to exclude animals from circus shows. Also remember that, later in 2010, the Catalan parliament banned bullfights in the region.
This ban was included as an amendment to the Regional Animal Protection Act and states that circuses cannot use wild animals “in processes that may cause suffering to the animal, that there is unnatural treatment or that can be used as a joke” .
Oriol Amorós, deputy of the Republican Left (ERC), who drafted the law, said there will be a two-year moratorium before the law goes into effect, so that entertainment businesses adapt to the new rules.
During the debate, socialist Jordi Terrades said it was “time to get used to defending the different species of animals that are around us.”
Isabel Vallet, from the Popular Unit (CUP) said that society needs to “eradicate all forms of violence and cruelty to animals.”
The Popular Party (PPC) voted against the measure.
According to information from animal welfare groups, there is evidence to show how animals are cruelly trained in circuses.
A large amount of audiovisual material collected by the protection associations can be seen as animals are cruelly beaten and suffer from electric shocks.
In the rest of the world, what other countries prohibit the use of animals in circuses?
Europe
Countries like Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, Hungary, Malta, Ireland, Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses.
Bulgaria, in turn, talks about banning certain wild species.
North America
In the United States, there are 49 partial and total bans in 22 states on the use of animals in circuses. In Canada, bans on the use of animals in circuses extend to 28 county jurisdictions. Mexico has also banned the use of animals in shows.
Central and South America
Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador and Bolivia are among the countries that have so far banned the use of animals in circuses within their territory. In Argentina, so far, the ban is only effective in 20 cities, including the capital: Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
In Brazil, local bans on the use of wild and domestic animals in circuses are in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Sul, Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Alagoas.
In Chile, the ban only applies to the capital Santiago. The same happens in Bogotá, Colombia.
Oceania
In Australia there are local bans on the use of animals in circuses in several cities, including Hobsons Bay, Surf Coast Shire and Lismore Parramata
Asia
Finally, countries like India, Israel, Singapore and Taiwan prohibit the use of animals in shows on their territory.
