PAN calls for animal ban in Portugal's circuses

Paul Rees 01 December 2017

lionCircus The one-man PAN party wants to ban all animals from circus performances in Portugal

Parliament will discuss MP André Silva’s proposal on 21 December, with the party also pushing for prosecution for those who continue to flout current animal protection laws relating to circus animals.

PAN (People-Animals-Nature) has scheduled a bill to ban the use of animals in circuses. Although the "acquisition and breeding" of certain animals already is banned, the party wants to extend the ban to all species, with circus animals taken to reserves to recover.

Species such as "tigers, hippos, lions, camels, sharks, zebras, snakes, dogs, horses, ponies, donkeys and foxes can still be used in circuses, with a 2009 law prohibiting the use of primates, bears, walruses, seals and penguins," said the MP.

PAN now wants to go further and "abolish the use of all live animals in circuses, a stance arrived at after several months of study and meetings with various national and international entities and NGOs."

If the proposal is approved, "circus keepers and trainers who hand over animals free of charge to the State will be entitled to support for professional retraining" with punishment for those who break the proposed new law, and the prosecution of those who continue to use banned animals for public amusement.

André Silva argues that, "animals in circuses should be rescued and placed in reserves where they can recover" and "people should be sensitized and encouraged to choose only circuses where there are no animals."

Comments

0 #4 Gerry 2017-12-14 17:50

I never understood why 'straight bananas' were more important to the E.U. than animal welfare. ALL animals and I repeat ALL, should have laws of protection. No one should earn their living from cruelty to animals.

+2 #3 Tiago 2017-12-04 12:47

Quoting Jay Wilson:

for more than their money. Actually identifying each foreigners origins and their relative business success rate in Portugal would be a start.

I agree 100%. I am Portuguese and trust me the biggest problem of Portuguese is being jealous. So even if you a a successful Portuguese they will be jealous and just care for your money. Has nothing to do with nationality. Portugal is a country of farmers, the way Salazar wanted it to be. Will take many years to loose our farmer simple ways and corruption.

+3 #2 liveaboard 2017-12-01 22:54

the last time I went to a circus was 30 years ago; I was appalled at the obvious ill health of the animals being paraded through.
There's just no way a circus could afford to take care of them, even were they so inclined.

So I decided simply not to ever buy a ticket for a circus again.

+5 #1 Jay Wilson 2017-12-01 18:17

Any discussion of animal welfare in Portugal is very late but welcome. But totally premature until the Portuguese face head on their neurosis of inferiority. Inadequacy in today's fast moving world. Yet another country that teaches its citizens that it once had an empire. That once it really mattered but ... where is it now?
The first stage is to like themselves as Portuguese. Knowingly damaging animals is driven by inadequacy. Then start genuinely liking foreigners - for more than their money. Actually identifying each foreigners origins and their relative business success rate in Portugal would be a start. Finally (although any change sooner is welcome) .... a genuine focus on animal welfare. Rather than what we have now ... a very weak wishy washy patchwork that is still leaving tens of thousands of dogs and cats to die early through maltreatment. Failing them like so much else in Portuguese legislation.

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