http://www.ecorazzi.com/2015/03/12/wild-animal-entertainment-ban-proposed-in-pennsylvania/

Ecorazzi

Wild Animal Entertainment Ban Proposed in Pennsylvania

by Anthony Marcusa March 12, 2015

Categories: Animals.

The circus may no longer be coming to town in the Keystone State if one Pennsylvania lawmaker has his way.

Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach, a Democrat from Montgomery Country, put forth a bill that seeks to end the display of wild animals in traveling show. While zoos, educational programs, and research activities would still be permitted, the forcing of animals to provide entertainment for humans, such as in the circus, would cease.

Leach calls such acts as ‘unconscionable cruelty,’ citing that wild animals are subject to ‘endure cramped living quarter, limited social interaction and perpetual stress.’

“It’s not only elephants. It’s lions and tigers. These animals are not made to be show creatures. They are made to run over vast expanses of land,” Leach added. “And given that it’s against their nature, activities based on cruelty are used so they entertain people. It seems unnecessary.”

This is not the first such law or idea to be floated out around the country. Asheville, N.C., has prohibited wild animal acts from its civic center, while in New York and Hawaii, bans similar to the one Leach has put forth are being introduced.

Ringling Bros., the once popular and now maligned circus group, is none too pleased. While they have made a pledge to phase out elephants from their act by 2018, they claim to be doing so by their own decision and not pressure from the public. What’s more, they claim this specific bill and others are insulting and inaccurate.

“We are proud of our animal welfare. I don’t know if the representative educated himself about the regulatory process under which we operate,” said Steven Payne, Vice President of corporate communications of Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company. “People inspect us in almost every place we go. We have a team of veterinarians who travel with us and share what they know about taking care of animals with zoos throughout the country,” he said.

Animal Defenders International President Jan Creamer said: “We are proud to support Senator Leach’s leadership on this effort to make sure these magnificent animals are not abused in the name of entertainment in Pennsylvania. Due to severe confinement, lack of free exercise, and the restriction of natural behaviors, animals used in traveling circuses suffer and are prone to health, behavioral, and psychological problems. The days of animals suffering in traveling circuses are numbered, not just here in the US but all over the world.”

This wild ban bill looks to be introduced soon, however the circus is still set to arrive in Hershey, Pennsylvania from May 20 to 25. Ringling Bros. will be looking to fight what they are calling an anti-circus bill.

Leach has supported other anti-animal cruelty bills, and himself introduced last year a bill to ban bullhooks, but that failed to make it out of committee.

Via Penn Live