The elephants for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus arrive by train

The elephants for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus arrive by train for the walk to the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa., last May. Paul Chaplin | pchaplin@pennlive.com

(Pennlive File Photo)

Last year, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced it would be phasing out all of its elephant acts by 2018.

In another victory for animal rights activists, Sea World did the same for its whale acts.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is taking things a step further with a bill that the City Council will consider at its meeting next week.

The measure would ban performances of wild and exotic animals in the city.



It would not be limited to circuses. Also banned would be any events in which animals are required to perform tricks or give rides such as trade shows, petting zoos, carnivals and parades.

The Humane Society of the United States backs the measure, saying there is often little veterinary care for the animals and there is often abusive training behind the scenes.