Bolivian Congress puts an end to circus suffering

21 May 2009

Animal Defenders International (ADI) is thrilled that a bill proposing a ban on the use of animals in circuses has recently been approved in the two houses of the Bolivian Congress.

The Bill, tabled by Congresswoman Ximena Flores, was accepted by the Chamber of Deputies in January and the Commission of Sustainable Development of the Senate. On 13th May 2009, the Bill was then approved by a majority in the Plenary of Senate with some minor amendments. Yesterday, the Plenary of the Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved those amendments, and it will now be remitted to President Evo Morales Ayma for his signature, to become law.

The bill bans the use of wild and domestic animals in circuses in the Bolivia, as it is considered an act of cruelty against animals. The government has been given 180 days to issue regulations on confiscation and pecuniary sanctions for any breaches.

Once approved, it will be the first national law to ban the use of both domestic and wild animals in circuses. So far, the bans in Costa Rica, Sweden, Finland and Denmark only prohibit the use of wild animals or certain species.

The launch of Stop Circus Suffering campaign in Bolivia uncovered a disturbing insight behind the scenes of Bolivia's circus industry. ADI's field officers worked undercover in the circuses and observed:

Lions confined in a tiny cage on the back of a truck – the adults left the cage for just ten minutes each day to perform for the show. A lion cub remained permanently in the cage. During the show, the animals were forced to jump through a ring of fire. Two of the lionesses were pregnant, but continued to perform.

Three brown bears were kept in three compartments of a beastwagon, each measuring approx 2.5 x 3m. Their only exercise was the walk to and from the ring for their short performance. The same bear act had previously been with a circus in Peru. There was no safety barrier between the audience and the three brown bears which were made to dance, play dead and ride a bicycle.

A mandrill kept in a small wire mesh cage – approx 1.5 x 1.5m.

The Bolivian public was horrified by the conditions the animals were forced to endure. A year after the launch of the investigation, several municipalities introduced animals circus bans in El Alto, La Paz, Santa Cruz, Tiquipaya and Cochabamba. In May 2008, these bans faced a major test when a Las Vegas, USA, based magic show featuring big cats, The Fercos Brothers, planned to appear. ADI and local animal protection groups worked together to uphold the bans and succeeded.

ADI Chief Executive, Jan Creamer, "This is a truly historic day for circus animals. The undercover investigations, the scientific research and evidence, the lobbying, the publicity campaign held in Bolivia has led to this wonderful conclusion. These moves in Bolivia set an essential precedent for South America, demonstrating that legislation to put an end to circus suffering is possible. We applaud the Bolivian Congress who has set the highest positive example for South America, which the rest of the world now needs to follow. We also salute the efforts of all the local organizations and Congresswoman Flores who along with ADI worked tirelessly to ensure Congress approved the Bill."

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