Massachusetts House Passes Bill Banning Wild Animals in Traveling ShowsMassachusetts House Passes Bill Banning Wild Animals in Traveling Shows The Massachusetts House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill (H. 4915) prohibiting the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling exhibits and shows. The legislation aims to protect these animals from suffering and abuse associated with transportation, confinement, and coercive training techniques. Sponsored by Speaker Carole Fiola (D-Fall River) and House Minority Leader Bradley Jones (R-North Reading), the bill has strong bipartisan support. According to Fiola’s office, there have been nearly 160 dangerous incidents involving wild animals in traveling shows since 1990, resulting in 10 adult deaths and over 200 injuries. The bill addresses the inherent risks posed by these animals, including incidents of elephants being shot on city streets and children being injured by bears and primates. The legislation is supported by over 70 House members and a majority of Massachusetts voters, who favor a ban on wild animal acts. House Minority Leader Jones emphasized the urgency of the bill, highlighting the lack of adequate federal protections for these animals. States and localities must lead the effort to end the cruel treatment of wild animals in circuses and shows, he said. If passed into law, Massachusetts would join 10 other states that have enacted restrictions on the use of wild animals in traveling exhibits. The bill has already received support from the Humane Society of the United States, which praised the bipartisan leadership and compassion shown by Massachusetts legislators. The bill now advances to the Senate for further consideration.
BOSTON — The Massachusetts House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill banning the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes and bears in traveling exhibits and shows (H. 4915). This crucial, bipartisan legislation, first introduced 23 years ago, aims to protect wild animals from the suffering associated with transportation and from the abuse and coercive training techniques such as extreme confinement, bullhooks, whips and electric prods, all of which are associated with transporting and exhibiting dangerous wild animals for entertainment. The urgency of this bill is heightened by the dozens of shows that continue to travel across the United States, coupled with incidents that threaten the safety of both the public and workers.
The legislation was sponsored by Speaker Carole Fiola (D-Fall River) and House Minority Leader Bradley Jones (R-North Reading), with support from more than 70 House members.
According to Fiola’s office, since 1990, the United States has seen nearly 160 dangerous incidents involving big cats, bears, elephants and primates used in traveling shows. These incidents have resulted in 10 adult deaths, 136 adult injuries and 73 injuries to children. To underscore the inherent risks, there have been instances of elephants being tragically gunned down on city streets and cases of children, including a toddler, being injured in an encounter with a bear. Spectators have watched in horror as trainers have been mauled by big cats and individuals have been injured by primates such as lemurs, chimpanzees, capuchin monkeys and baboons used in traveling shows.
“During my tenure as chairman of the committee last session, I was deeply moved by the compelling evidence and public sentiment against the use of wild animals in traveling acts,” said Chairman Fiola. “Now, as the sponsor of this legislation, I feel a strong obligation to ensure that we bring about meaningful change. With more than two-thirds of Massachusetts voters supporting a ban on wild animal acts, it is clear that our constituents want a future free of animal exploitation for entertainment. This bill embodies that sentiment and underscores our commitment to the humane treatment of animals.”
House Minority Leader Jones added: “There is an urgent need for legislation like this, as federal laws currently do not provide adequate protections for these animals. States and localities must take the lead in ending the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals in circuses and traveling shows.”
House of Representatives Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Chairwoman Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) said, “The circus industry has already recognized that consumer preferences have shifted away from the use of wild animals in their shows. Today’s action by the House reaffirms our commitment to representing the interests of our constituents by demonstrating compassion and kindness and reducing the risk of harm to both the public and animals.”
Preyel Patel, executive director of the Humane Society of the United States in Massachusetts, said:
“After 23 years of fighting to end archaic, cruel, wild animal circus acts where tigers, elephants, and other animals are brutally forced to perform for profit, Massachusetts is finally entering the 21st century. The Humane Society of the United States, along with other animal protection groups, shelters, and advocates across the Commonwealth, have been pushing for the passage of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation for decades. The bill’s sponsors, Speaker Carole Fiola and Minority Leader Bradley Jones, expressed deep empathy and understanding for the suffering of wild animals used for entertainment. The leadership of Speaker Mariano, Speaker Michlewitz, and Speaker Domb in this bill will save wild animals from a life of suffering as show props.”
If this legislation becomes law, Massachusetts would join 10 other states that have already enacted various restrictions on the use of wild animals in traveling exhibits and shows. Massachusetts in particular already has a strong precedent for enacting such policies at the local level, with 15 of the 175 localities nationwide that ban wild animals in traveling acts located in the Commonwealth. Massachusetts municipalities with existing local ordinances and regulations include Northampton, Amherst, Wilmington, Mendon, Braintree, Cambridge, Quincy, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Provincetown, Revere, Somerville, Topsfield, Weymouth and Brookline.
This bill now goes to the Senate.
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