On Wednesday, using animals in circus performances became illegal by law in Mexico City.

On June 9, the Federal District Legislative Assembly approved the law with a 41-0 vote, with 11 abstentions, EFE reports. The legislation became official a day after it was published in the Federal District Gazette.

"The Federal District now consolidates itself as a progressive city in the vanguard of respect for the lives of non-human living creatures," Jesus Sesma, Mexican Green Party (PVEM) Federal District lawmaker and one of the law's biggest supporters, said.

The law, called the Law on the Staging of Public Shows, "prohibits the use of live wild or domestic animals during the staging of circus performances." It also bans the sale, presentation or use of living animals in games or lottery prizes. In addition, circuses are prohibited from using creatures "for the taking of photographs or any other related activity."

Circuses have one year to adhere to the new law and change its acts accordingly. The businesses also have one year to find new homes for the animals. Violators are subject to fines of over 700,000 pesos ($54,105.65) and may have their animals confiscated.

Sesma thanked Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera for his help with the measure introduced by the PVEM. According to Sesma, the circus industry "should not be afraid of change [and] should innovate and evolve to maintain the longtime tradition of this excellent family entertainment."

The Circus Owners and Artists Association, on the other hand, disagrees with the ban and has criticized Mancera for supporting the Law on the Staging of Public Shows.

"[The ban] is completely arbitrary and unconstitutional," The Circus Owners and Artists Association said in a statement.

The association plans to file an appeal with the Supreme Court.

"[The law is] unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary and puts the existence of our businesses and the welfare of our animals at serious risk," the statement continued.

Mexico City joins the states of Colima, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Queretaro in the banning of circus animals. The states of Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tamaulipas and Quintana Roo are also considering similar laws.

Dolphin shows, theater companies, bullfights and other such animal-related entertainment are not affected by the new law.
---
Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

Related