Catalonia Bans The Circus With Animals
According to media reports, the Parliament of Catalonia has finally approved a law banning circuses with animals. The ban, for the moment, only affects wild animals. This is an important step forward in the protection of animal rights, made possible by the CLAC (Catalunya Lliure d’Animals en Circus) campaign, promoted by the LIBERA animal rights association and the Franz Weber Foundation. In a press release, CLAC stated that “The law, approved by 79% of the Chamber, will come into force within two years to allow the circus sector to adapt to this new legislative reality ”. Five of the seven political groups present in the Parliament of Catalonia, CiU, Erc, Psc, Icv-EUiA and Cup, voted in favor, Ciutadans abstained and the PPC voted against.
We must underline that, with this new law, Catalonia joins Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Switzerland in the defense of animal rights.
Jurisprudential precedents regarding the prohibition of circuses with animals
As early as 2003, the city of Barcelona had approved a similar law, which prohibited the use of animals in circus shows. Perhaps not everyone knows that a few years later, in 2010, the Catalan Parliament also banned bullfighting throughout the region.
This ban has been included in the legislative amendment of the Regional Animal Protection Law, and states that wild animals cannot be used “in shows where they have to perform activities, have anti-natural behaviors and be subjected to constant movement”.
“Nothing justifies the suffering of animals, whether for playful, artistic or traditional reasons” declared the left republican deputy Oriol Amoros, who also explained that a two-year moratorium is foreseen to allow all circuses to adapt to the new legislation.
In the course of the debate, the socialist Jordi Terrades said that a modern, civilized and cultured society has an obligation to worry about the welfare and respect of all animals, and recalled that, from this point of view, there are European laws that clearly define the parameters.
Isabel Vallet, of the Unidad Popular (CUP), also said that society must eradicate any violent or cruel attitude against animals.
Only the Partido Popular (PPC) voted against this bill.
Animal welfare groups have brought in plenty of video evidence to show the public how animals are trained in circuses.
The videos show how the animals are severely hit, or how they are trained even resorting to the use of electric shocks.
In the rest of the world, which countries prohibit the use of animals in circuses?
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Portugal and Holland are the European countries that prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses.
North America
In the United States of America, in 22 states, there are 49 partial or total bans on the use of animals in circuses.
In Canada, the veto on the use of animals in circuses extends to 28 municipal jurisdictions.
The use of animals in circus shows has also been prohibited in Mexico.
Central and South America
Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador and Bolivia are just some of the countries that have banned the use of animals in circus shows throughout the territory.
In Argentina, the prohibition only applies in some cities, such as Buenos Aires.
In Brazil, 12 municipal jurisdictions have total or partial bans (even a total ban in Rio de Janeiro).
In Chile the ban is in force only in the capital: Santiago. The same goes for Bogota, Colombia.
Oceania
In Australia there are local bans on the use of animals in circuses. The use of animals in circuses is prohibited in: Hobsons Bay, Surf Coast Shire, Parramata and Lismore
Asia
In India, Israel, Singapore and Taiwan the use of animals in circus shows is prohibited throughout the territory.
