Animal Defenders International

Bogotá prohibits the use of animals in circuses

Posted: 1 June 2012. Updated: 1 June 2012

May 30, 2012 - Bogotá, Colombia - Animal Defenders International (ADI) is delighted to announce that the Plenary Council of Colombia´s capital city Bogota this week voted overwhelmingly to ban the use of animals in circuses, with 36 votes in favor and 8 against the Development Plan proposed by the Mayor.

The Development Plan of the Capital of the Republic says in Article 31, paragraph 3 prohibits the exhibition of all animals in circuses in favor of human only acts. The Government of the District responsible for monitoring animal protection will now implement this development plan, which is a roadmap for the next four years of Mayor Petro´s administration. The plan also includes measures for humane stray control.

ADI´s office in Bogotá congratulates Mayor Gustavo Petro, the city councilors who made this possible, especially Councilman Roberto Saenz, and the local animal organizations and citizens who worked alongside ADI to achieve this ban. ADI is in discussion with the authorities to establish what steps will be taken if circuses ignore the ban. Ban have already been passed in Medellin and Pereira

In April, ADI was involved in the 10º International Circus Festival of Bogota, where “the only animal is man". In addition, the District Institute of Arts, has developed a training program to support circus without animals focused on vulnerable communities and advocating that the circus can be developed without using animals.

The ban Colombia´s capital follows a vote earlier in the month in Congress to end the use of animals in circuses nationwide - that Bill has now moved to the Senate, with two further votes required for it to become law.

Colombia appears to be moving rapidly towards becoming the latest country in South America to ban animal circuses since the launch of ADI´s Stop Circus Suffering campaign in 2007. To date Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador have banned either all animal acts or wild animal acts, with a ban also well advanced in the Brazilian Congress.

A bill that would ban the use of wild animals in traveling circuses is currently securing sponsors in the U.S. Congress Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, H.R. 3359, and the British Government recently stated it would be introducing a ban but has not said when. Both countries it seems are slipping behind Latin America.

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Note to editors

For additional information contact Eduardo Peña Garzon ADI Representative for Colombia.

E-mail: eduardopena@ad-international.org

Mobile number: 3178188740

Animal Defenders International

With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogota, ADI conducts worldwide campaigns on animals in entertainment, provide technical advice to governments, leading to a progressive animal protection legislation, preparing drafts of regulations and rescuing endangered animals. ADI has a worldwide reputation for providing video and photographic evidence revealing the suffering behind the scenes in the industry and this evidence supports scientific research on wildlife in captivity and transportation. ADI animal rescues worldwide, educates the public about animals and environmental issues.

http://www.ad-international.org/adi_suramerica/

ADI’s research on the use of animals in circuses in Colombia revealed staggering levels of violence and abuse, including a female chimpanzee named Karla, who received a punch in the face and was hit with a chain by her trainer. The research also showed animals living in inadequate, poor and unnatural conditions. The severe stress due to confinement is a constant factor in traveling circuses with animals around the world, has been shown to be increased by the lack of space for exercise and to display natural behaviors, and by the lacking social interaction with members of their own species.

To download the Development Plan:

http://www.bogotahumana.gov.co/images/PDF/proyecto_de_articulado_final_primer_debate.pdf