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Stop Traveling Circuses From Confining And Exploiting Wild Animals
Final signature count: 78
78 signatures toward our 30,000 goal
Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
Wild animals are still confined, transported, and forced to perform for crowds. Tell Governor Hochul to end this cruel exploitation across New York.
Lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, and other wild animals can still be transported across New York for circuses, fairs, exhibitions, and similar performances.
These animals may spend long periods inside trucks, trailers, temporary cages, and unfamiliar facilities. Their lives are shaped by constant movement, confinement, noise, crowds, and performances designed for human entertainment.
New York prohibited elephants from entertainment acts in 2017, but that protection does not extend to many other wild species.1 Big cats, bears, nonhuman primates, kangaroos, and wallabies remain vulnerable to the same traveling-show system.
Life On The Road Cannot Meet Their Needs
Wild animals have complex physical, social, and behavioral needs. A trailer, temporary enclosure, or performance ring cannot provide the space and stability they require.
A scientific review published in Animal Welfare found that repeated transport, forced movement, human handling, noise, confinement, inadequate housing, and frequent performances create serious welfare concerns. Researchers concluded that large cats and other commonly exhibited species are poorly suited to traveling circus life.2
A separate review of tiger welfare identified loading, unloading, noise, cage motion, unfamiliar environments, and restricted housing as potential sources of stress.3
New York Lawmakers Have Approved A Ban
The New York Legislature has passed A.5850/S.3629-A. The bill would prohibit wild cats, bears, nonhuman primates, kangaroos, and wallabies from participating in traveling animal acts.4
The measure would also prevent the Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing permits that allow covered animals to appear in traveling performances.
Permanent facilities would remain exempt, provided animals are not transported there solely for temporary entertainment.
The Assembly approved the bill 100-38, and the Senate passed it with a bipartisan 54-8 vote.5 Governor Kathy Hochul now has the power to make it law.
Entertainment Does Not Require Animal Suffering
Modern circuses and public performances can attract audiences through acrobatics, theater, music, technology, and human talent. Wild animals do not need to be confined, transported, and displayed to create entertainment.
New York has already acknowledged that elephants do not belong in entertainment acts. The state must now extend meaningful protection to other animals whose natural needs cannot be reduced to what fits inside a trailer or temporary cage.
Sign the petition urging New York's Governor to sign A.5850/S.3629-A and end the cruel exploitation of wild animals in traveling shows.
