worldwide bans on wild animals in circuses
Which countries have banned wild animals in circuses and which are lagging behind?
Banning Wild Animals in Circuses is a Growing Global Movement
Numerous countries have banned or restricted wild animals in circuses. Some of them have also banned domesticated animals such as horses or dogs, who are also used in circus shows.
Here is a roundup of the countries that have already taken action against the use of wild animals in circuses or where ban regulations are in the political debate – in Europe, Australia, and around the world.
In Europe
- Austria: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Belgium: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: General ban on the use of all animals.
- Bulgaria: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Croatia: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Cyprus: General ban on the use of all animals.
- Czech Republic: Ban on the use of newly born apes, seals, whales (excl. dolphins), rhinoceroses, hippopotami, giraffes. From January 2022 ban on all individuals of wild animal species born, donated or bought after 1. January 2022.
- Denmark: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- England: General ban on the use of wild animals as of 2020.
- Estonia: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Finland: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- France: General ban on the use of wild animals as of 2028. Ban on breeding wild animals in circuses as of 2023.
- Greece: General ban on the use of all animals.
- Hungary: Ban on the use of elephants, rhinoceroses and primates. Ban on the use of newly captured animals from the wild. Ban on the use of species mentioned in Appendix I of the CITES Convention.
- Ireland: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Italy: In July 2022 a law on entertainment was approved by the Italian Chamber of Deputies that abolish the use of animals in circuses and other travelling shows. The enabling act already stipulates that, as of now, circuses cannot acquire new animals or breed their own. In August 2024 the implementing law was postponed another 12 months.
- Latvia: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Lithuania: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Luxembourg: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Malta: General ban on the use of all animals.
- North Macedonia: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Netherlands: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Norway: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Portugal: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Poland: Ban on the use of wild animals that were born in the wild.
- Romania: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Scotland: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Serbia: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Slovakia: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Slovenia: General ban on the use of all animals.
- Spain: General ban on the use of wild animals.
- Sweden: Ban on the use of apes, predators, rhinoceroses, giraffes, kangaroos, hippopotami, seals, predatory birds, ostriches, crocodiles, fallow deer, elephants and sea lions.
- Ukraine: Before the outbreak of the war the Ukrainian government was preparing for a ban.
- Wales: General ban on the use of wild animals.
WorLdwide
- Australia: While over 40 local councils have banned the use of circus animals in Australia, there are no national nor state bans against the use of wild and domesticated animals in circuses. Neither is there any national welfare standard for circus animals.
- Armenia: In March 2022, the Armenian parliament passed an animal rights bill effectively ending the use of wild animals in live circuses. The list of the wild animals will be defined by a competent body.
- Bolivia: General ban of wild animals and domesticated species.
- Costa Rica: General ban of wild animals.
- Ecuador: Nationwide ban on the use of native wild animals; restrictions on the use of exotic animals; ban on the import of both native and exotic wild animals with circuses.
- El Salvador: General ban of wild animals.
- Guatemala: General ban of all animals.
- Honduras: General ban of all animals.
- India: General ban of wild animals.
- Iran: General ban of wild animals.
- Israel: General ban of wild animals.
- Colombia: General ban of wild animals.
- Lebanon: Nationwide ban on the use of certain species in circuses.
- Mexico: General ban of wild animals.
- Panama: Nationwide ban prohibiting 'entry of wild animals for use in static and travelling circuses and similar shows'.
- Paraguay: General ban of wild animals.
- Peru: General ban of wild animal.
- Singapore: General ban of wild animals.
- Taiwan: Nationwide ban on the import or export of protected wildlife for circuses.
- Uzbekistan: Ban on the use of a long list of wild animal species (incl. big cats, bears, elephants, apes etc.) as of 1 January 2025.