New Law Protects Animals in Bolivia

[Jeanette McDermott]

Uncork the champagne and celebrate a major victory for animals! Bolivia has enacted the world's first law that prohibits the use of animals in circuses. If activists can shut down animal circus acts in Bolivia, a global action network on Ning can shut down bile farming in China and Korea!There's great hope from the precedence this law sets.

A small handful of countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, but the Bolivian ban includes domestic animals as well, making the new law in Bolivia the dawning of a brand new day. The law took effect July 1.

The law was proposed after an undercover investigation by the nonprofit London-based group Animal Defenders International (ADI) found widespread abuse in circuses operating in Bolivia. The group's undercover investigators in Bolivia worked side-by-side with circus workers and other animal welfare groups to film disturbing mistreatment of the animals.

Rep. Ximena Flores sponsored the bill to enact the law after seeing the video footage. The law she enacted states that the use of animals in circuses "constitutes an act of cruelty." The law sets fines for infractions and allows for animals to be confiscated by authorities. Circus operators have a year to comply to the new law.

Flores said authorities are now working to prevent circus operators from killing animals they can no longer use. About 50 animals are circulating in national and international circuses at the moment in Bolivia.

ADI chief executive Jan Creamer said circus animals suffer everywhere, including in wealthy countries such as The United States.

Click here to help ADI end suffering of circus animals and to help stop a U.S. “Reality” Show about Ringling Brothers Circus. Posted from ecopaparazzi.