We Demand a Ban on Animal Exploitation in Circuses!

AZOU and 53 other animal protection organizations sent a letter to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the head of the “Servant of the People” faction in support of bill No. 5409, which bans the use of animals in circuses and contact zoos.

This bill was developed in April 2021 with the participation of AZOU, UAnimals, the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center, and the NGOs “One Planet,” “Open Cages,” and “4 Paws Ukraine.”

The bill has been recommended by the Committee on Environmental Policy for the first reading. It is now up to the deputies to bring it to a vote in the session hall.

The bill prohibits:

• exploitation of animals in circuses, shows, and contact zoos;
• cruel training methods: beating animals, intimidation, removal of fangs, claws, etc.;
• forcing animals to perform actions that injure them, using electric shock, fire, sharp objects, starvation, or narcotic substances.

Animals that were exploited for performances will be taken in by rehabilitation centers and animal shelters.