France's environment minister has announced a gradual ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses and marine parks
In 2019, the French government launched an investigation into the well-being of animals in circuses, zoos and dolphinariums.
Yesterday (29 September), Barbara Pompili, France’s environment minister, announced a gradual ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses and keeping dolphins and killer whales in captivity in marine parks.
Bears, tigers, lions, elephants and other wild animals will also no longer be allowed in travelling circuses “in the coming years” whilst marine parks will be banned from bringing in or breeding dolphins and killer whales.
Arguing that animal welfare is a priority, Pompili said: “It is time to open a new era in our relationship with these (wild) animals”, although the ban does not apply to wild animals in other permanent shows and in zoos.
Pompili has yet to set an end date for the ban in travelling circuses, but said process should start “as soon as possible” and solutions for the rehoming and care of animals currently in circuses and marine parks will be found for each animal “on a case-by-case basis.”
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Mink fur farming ban
Mink fur farming will also be banned in France with the last remaining fur farms ordered to shut by 2025 in a move that will save countless animal’s lives.
The announcement comes a month after an undercover investigation by French animal campaigners, One Voice, revealed shocking evidence of animal suffering on mink fur farms.
The country is the second-largest exporter of fur to the UK with the latter importing £64,169, 892 worth of fur into the country between 2015 – 2019.
