Paris Bans Wild Animal Circuses

Wild animal circuses will no longer exist in Paris, following a resolution passed by the city council that will prohibit new land authorizations by the end of 2020. The city will reward €50,000 ($55,000) across three years to each circus that contractually agrees to cease exploiting animals for entertainment. Paris currently has three circus companies that exploit wild animals: Cirque Royale, Bouglione, and Gruss. Bouglione owns its own land so the city cannot enforce the resolution while Gruss’ permit is up for renewal in 2020, at which point it will have to comply with the resolution. “We will no longer give authorization for the use of public space to any circus that presents shows featuring wild animals,” Pénélope Komitès, Paris’ Secretary for City Nature, said. “We can all collectively celebrate this decision, which marks a social step forward demanded by all French people.” Paris joins 65 other French municipalities—and a growing list of countries, most recently the United Kingdom—in banning wild animal circuses.