On January 1, Massachusetts officially prohibited elephants, lions, tigers, primates, giraffes, and bears from being used in traveling circus environments.
Going forward, the new law authorizes civil penalties ranging from $500 to $10,000 per animal.
The result comes at the heels of over two decades of advocacy and was widely supported across the state, with more than two-thirds of Massachusetts voters supporting the ban.
“For years, circuses have harmed the welfare of animals for the sake of entertainment,” Governor Healey expressed in an official statement, as the bill was signed into law. “I’m thankful to the Legislature for taking the steps needed to prevent this kind of animal mistreatment in Massachusetts.”
“Some of the most majestic creatures on our planet should not be treated inhumanely simply for profit or entertainment,” Senate President Karen E. Spilka added in agreement.
Although larger circus companies, like Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, have resumed operation post-pandemic without elephants, tigers, lions, and more in their shows regional circuses, fairs, and carnivals have only recently come under fire for their treatment of animals.
As the new year rang in, Massachusetts joined New Jersey, Hawaii, California, Colorado, and Maryland in banning the use of wild animals in circuses.
In Massachusetts, exemptions include animals performing in zoos and on movie sets — activities that are monitored by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and the American Humane Association (AHA) respectively.
Preyel Patel, the Massachusetts state director for the Humane Society, said the new law protects animals from enduring abusive training methods, prolonged confinement, and harmful environments.
“This historic legislation marks the end of an era where tigers, elephants and other wild animals are forced to perform under deplorable conditions including being whipped and forced into small cages to travel from show to show across the commonwealth,” Patel told the Associated Press.
Officials hoped this would also bring attention to the protection of the many endangered and vulnerable species that have long been associated with circus life, including Asian elephants and wild tigers.
“These animals are often subject to cruel and inhumane treatment, including prolonged periods of confinement and other forms of neglect and abuse, all to provide entertainment,” said House Minority Leader Representative Bradley H. Jones Jr.
“While several communities in the Commonwealth have already implemented local bans, a statewide ban on traveling animal acts is long overdue.”
Header image via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
