Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/france-ban-wild-animals-in-marine-parks-circuses/

image - France To Ban The Use Of Wild Animals In Their Circuses And Marine Parks

The environment minister in France has made an announcement that is being applauded by animal lovers around the world. It is of a gradual ban on using wild animals in a number of ways. It includes keeping killer whales or dolphins in captivity and marine parks and from using fur farms to raise minks.

According to BBC News, in a news conference, the minister of ecological transition in France, Barbara Pompili also talked about the ban of using certain animals in traveling circuses. The animals included in the ban are bears, tigers, lions, elephants, and other wild animals and it is due to be rolled out “in the coming years.”

Along with these announcements, the three marine parks in France won’t be able to breed dolphins or killer whales any longer. They will also be barred from bringing in those animals.

She talked about the need to make animal welfare a priority, saying, according to BBC News: “It is time to open a new era in our relationship with these (wild) animals.”

Although the ban does not apply to the use of wild animals in many permanent shows or zoos, it does aim to stop mink farming within the next five years.

There has not yet been a date set for the ban associated with traveling circuses. In her words, it would start “as soon as possible,” although she did promise that each solution would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

A package of approximately $9.2 million will be implemented by the French government to help those who are working in marine parks or circuses so they can find suitable work. They are going to spread out that transition over several years since many lives will be impacted.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog