Wild animals will never again be forced to dance or perform in circus shows in India thanks to a new piece of legislation passed earlier this week.
The nation’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA) passed an order stating that circuses would no longer be allowed to use wild animals for exhibition or performance. Additionally, it announced that they would be deregistering several circuses following a year-long investigation into animal rights violations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act from 1960.
While monkeys, lions, bears, and tigers were all banned from being used for entertainment in 1998, elephants could still technically be utilized in the shows. A recent evaluation that was conducted by the CZA and supported by animal rights organizations found that none of the elephants used in India’s circuses were free from humane violations.
CHECK OUT: Mexico City Passes Landmark Dolphin Captivity Ban
In light of these violations, there are now no circuses that are registered by the body of India.
The court-ordered cancellation notice states that the entertainment groups had been warned of their violations in previous years, and still made no effort to correct them.
All the elephants that were previously used in shows will now be going to wildlife rehabilitation centers, according to India Today.
In 2016, Iran became the ninth country to ban animal circus shows and, that same year, Ringling Bros. paraded elephants for final time.
SHARE to Applaud this Show Closing (Photo by hbp_pix, CC)