top of page

ANIMAL  WELFARE VIOLATIONS

For information sheets detailing a history of circus violations, please click on the name of the circus you are investigating. Information courtesy of PETA.

CIRCUS BANS

Circus bans are continually being instituted. This is not a definitive list. Please check with local authorities to find out about bans on the use and abuse of wild animals in your area. To institute a ban, please contact us.

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 camels 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

  • France: Local bans in more than 30 cities

  • 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: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses

  • Latvia: Nationwide restrictions effectively banning use of wild-caught animals

  • Malta: Nationwide ban on the use of 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: Use of wild species effectively banned nationwide - positive list of permitted animals only includes domestic animals (apart from camels)

  • 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 many towns and cities including Barcelona

  • Sweden: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses

  • UK: Nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses

 

NORTH AMERICA

  • USA: 136 partial or full bans on circus animals in U.S. based jurisdictions across 34 states

  • Canada: Local bans on the use of animals in circuses in 28 municipal jurisdictions

 

LATIN 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

  • Iran: Use of wild animals in circuses effectively banned nationwide (no permits issued)

  • 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

Information courtesy of ADI and the HSUS.

bottom of page