Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is preparing a bill banning the use of animals in circuses since 2021, the ministry’s press service has said.
“The state has political will, and the authorities have an understanding that we will stop using animals in circuses since 2021. This issue should be settled by law, because otherwise we will put state circuses and traveling circuses in unequal conditions. We are convinced that the law will be adopted because there is a big request from society,” the ministry said.
The bill, if adopted, would prohibit the use of animals in all entertainment shows and will apply to all such events.
It is noted that the document will not concern those areas of human activity that are associated with partnership with animals.
“For example, no one is going to cancel cynology, using animals for therapy. Sports competitions with animals will also be held,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Culture emphasizes that for 2020, state circuses should prepare for the fact that their programs should be without animals from 2021.
The ministry said that at the moment there are seven state circuses in Ukraine and 317 animals involved in circus shows. Of these 317 animals, 96 are state-owned. The remaining animals are used in circus shows for transactions with organizations or entrepreneurs who possess these animals.
