Hawaii Could Be First State to Outlaw Wild Animal Acts

Hawaii may become the first US state to outlaw wild animal performances in circuses and other travelling shows. With Governor David Ige refusing to issue exotic animal exhibition permits and Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture planning to debate an official prohibition in June, Hawaiian animal advocates are ecstatic. They’ve been trying to ban wild animal acts since 1994, when a circus elephant named Tyke killed his trainer and ran rampant through the Honolulu streets before being gunned down on video. If the ban passes, Hawaii will join several countries and about 40 US cities in banning wild animal performances, including Mexico, the Netherlands, and, most recently, San Francisco.