From the Ketchum Keystone newspaper:

http://theketchumkeystone.org/2014/04/18/ketchum-to-consider-ban-on-traveling-exotic-animal-shows/

Ketchum to Consider Ban on Shows with Exotic Animals

April 18, 2014 by Brennan Rego

The Ketchum City Council at a regular meeting on Monday, April 21, will consider adopting a law that would ban performances involving exotic animal, especially by shows such as traveling circuses, in the city.

“Five Sage School students will go before the City Council Monday, April 21, to ask the City to prohibit performances by traveling circuses that include exotic or non-domesticated animals,” a recent newsletter from the city states.

The request is an outgrowth of a spring term independent study, the Student Elephant Project, in which the five pupils—sixth grader Sam Laski, seventh graders Harrison Blamires and Will Griffith and ninth graders Evathea Drougas and Kayla Chaffey—studied the effect of circus life on animals, the newsletter states.

“Traveling circuses are detrimental to animal welfare due to the adverse effects of captivity and transport,” the proposed ordinance states.

The use of domesticated animals such as horses and dogs in the Wagon Days Parade and other events would still be permitted.

The Elephant Student Project kids are still optimistic enough to believe that the only reason exotic-animal circuses are invited to perform in our community is because people don’t know the truth,” Maya Burrell, advisor to the project, wrote in a letter to the City Council.

Burrell will accompany the students at the City Council meeting.

To read a staff report regarding the proposed law, including the proposed ordinance and Burrell’s letter, click here. (http://ketchumidaho.org/DocumentCenter/View/1893)