A bill introduced in Congress would ban wild or exotic animals in traveling acts

By Karin Brulliard WASHINGTON POST MARCH 30, 2017


WASHINGTON — Mexico, Peru, and several other Latin American countries have banned or restricted the use of animals in traveling circuses in recent years. Performing animals are even rarer in Europe, where many nations prohibit them.

There is no such federal law in the United States. But dozens of local bans, as well as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s recent decision to fold its tent, have some lawmakers hoping the US political terrain might now be fertile enough to send all circus elephants, tigers, and bears to retirement.


US representatives Ryan Costello, a Pennsylvania Republican, and Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat, this week introduced a bill that would prohibit wild or exotic animal performances in traveling circuses. Flanked by TV actors Jorja Fox and Eric Szmanda, the representatives argued that the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act would end the suffering of creatures that profit-motivated humans force to perform unnatural behaviors and live in cramped conditions.

‘‘I don’t think that those practices have any place in the fabric of our society,’’ said Costello, who added that his constituents are keenly interested in animal welfare issues.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2017/03/29/bill-introduced-congress-would-ban-wild-exotic-animals-traveling-acts/mbZdINwC4Bn2QUSl4o6SdP/story.html

(Short article, no more at link.)

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