In wonderful news for wild animals, California has become the third state to prohibit circuses from using wild and exotic animals such as lions, tigers, elephants and monkeys in their acts, under a new bill signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
“We are making a statement to the world that beautiful wild animals like bears and tigers have no place on trapeze wires or jumping through flames,” Newsom said in a statement. “Just YouTube the videos showing the cruel way these animals – often stripped from their mothers as babies – are trained to do dangerous tricks.”
Animal advocacy organizations and activists worked hard to help this important legislation pass — including more than 20,000 of you who signed Lady Freethinker’s petition. Thank you to all who stood up to protect wild animals from abuse.
Authored by San Diego Senator Ben Hueso, Bill SB313 was and signed on Saturday, October 12 and includes a fine of up to $25,000 a day for each infringement.
“Wild animals used in circuses endure cruel training, near-constant confinement, and are deprived of their natural habitat,” commented Hueso. “We cannot allow this type of abuse to occur in California. This bill will ensure that these beautiful creatures are not exploited or cruelly treated within our state.”
The act was originally broader, and incorporated facilities such as wildlife rescue and outreach organizations. However, it was later revised to tighten the definition of a “circus” to “a performance before a live audience in which entertainment consisting of a variety of acts such as acrobats, aerialists, clowns, jugglers, or stunts is the primary attraction or principal business.”
The new legislation does not apply to horses used in rodeos or domesticated animals such as dogs and cats.
In 2018, New Jersey and Hawaii became the first US states to enforce a ban on circuses using exotic and wild animals, and similar legislation is currently being examined in New York, Massachusetts and Illinois.
Saturday also saw Newsom sign another piece of legislation to prohibit the sale and production of new fur items in California — the first state to do so in the entire nation.
What’s New…
Great news! now every state needs to do the same
Congratulations to Governor Newsom for banning elephants and tigers from circuses.
I have been protesting animals in circuses in Michigan for years and it’s so sad how
they are treated for training, being beaten with bull hooks, etc. The rest of the country
(and the whole world) should follow. Also, thank you Gov. Newsom for banning furs.
Those innocent animals should not have to endure all that torture and pain and death
just so
those idiot women (and men) can strut around in their prestige and status.
Thank you, good news!
BRAVO
Good for you, California. Circuses are things of yesteryear and torturous for the animals in captivity. If one must go to a circus, then go to Cirque du Soleil. According to them, no animals are used in any of their shows. There are also others such as Circus Vargas, Cirque Eloize[from Quebec, Canada], Wanderlust Circus[based in Portland, Oregon] and Cirque Productions[also known as Cirque Dreams] that use no animals in the shows. A circus does not have to exploit and abuse animals for entertainment purposes.
I want this governor to be President!! Yeah California!!!
That is Great News all we need now is the rest of them to FOLLOW SUIT.
Well done, again, California and Governor Newsom.
I am very happy with what Gavin Newsom have signed into law since he took office.I’m glad I voted for him to be our governor.
I am very grateful to anyone who helps animals.
CALIFORNIA…THE MOST AWESOME STATE…THANK YOU FOR HAVING SUCH HUGE HEARTS IN REALIZING THE TORTURE THAT GODS BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS GO THROUGH. NOW LETS GET THE REST OF THE STATES ON BOARD…
Good to hear it. Good news. Thank you for all your hard work.
Kudos to Gov Newsom. I remember the very first protest of a circus that I witnessed was 29 years ago when my son was 2 years old. It takes decades for animal rights to finally make inroads. I hope to see this in more states. God bless the animals.
Will this apply to Shriners Circus, too? And then we have to address their involvement with the vivisection industry.
Congratulations to Governor Newsom and California for having compassion. I have
been protesting circuses for years in Michigan trying to tell the public that animals suffer in circuses.
Now it’s time for the rest of the country to follow California.