translated from Spanish: France to ban using animals in circus, something debated 11 years ago in Chile

The French Government yesterday announced a progressive ban on the use of wild animals in traveling circuses, in order to ensure their condition, as well as to veto their reproduction in them and in enclosures such as aquariums or dolphinariums and to close the mink hatcheries to use their skin.” It is high time that our ancestral fascination with these wild beings does not translate into situations where their captivity is favored above their well-being,” Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili said in informing the measure. According to government estimates, there are about 500 wild species in such enclosures in that country and one of the ideas is that orcas and dolphins are re-targeted to sanctuaries. However, it is believed that this will take ten years for the latter to leave the aquariums. To accommodate the rest of the wildlife, work will be on the improvement and enablement of ecoparks. However, although there was talk of graduality, the government avoided specifying plan implementation dates.” Setting a date doesn’t solve all the problems, I’d rather start a process to get it as soon as possible,” said Barbara Pompili, representatives of venues like the Marineland dolphinarium criticized the plan, claiming that 94% of its visitors go for the spectacles of trained animals. “Historic victory! (…) Champagne is exploding in PETA, thanks to everyone who achieved this victory!” tweeted the French NGO. Chilean situation Since 2009 in Chile, five projects have been presented that seek to ban animals in circuses. None have passed their first legislative process and the one in the most advanced stage includes the regulation of the rodeo. It was rejected by the Environment and Agriculture committees, and is expected to be put on a table for a vote in court since April of this year. One of its authors, the environmental deputy and chairman of that committee in the House, Félix González, explained that due to the social outburst and then the pandemic the testera has avoided discussing animalistic projects, “because they do not find it urgent and even believe that it is impertinent,” he says via WhatsApp.” There’s not much support in Congress. Few truly animalists (…) I even think I’m the only one. Others say they are, but they vote for the rodeo. Others present projects and dump them,” the MP lamented.

Original source in Spanish