Législation brésilienne

Brazilian Deputies approve legislation to ban animal circuses

Animal Defenders International (ADI) is delighted that a ban on the use of animals
in circuses is within reach in Brazil.
Bill No. 7291 presented by the Congressman Antonio Carlos Biffi, has passed through
the Commission of Education and Culture of the Chamber of Deputies in the Brazilian
Congress. Following an intense debate with a strong presence of circus lobbyists and
animal protection groups, the bill was unanimously approved in the Commission.

The approval of the bill follows intensive lobbying lead by ADI as part of the Stop
Circus Suffering campaign in Brazil. This was launched in 2008 in conjunction with
Brazilian animal protection groups and with the backing of cruelty-free cosmetics
company Surya. An ADI undercover investigation revealed a disturbing insight behind
the scenes of Brazil's circus industry, including:

a.. Camels being punched, hit with a stick, struck with a tent pole, and their
lips being twisted to inflict pain;
b.. A solitary elephant chained by the legs barely able to move;
c.. A child allowed to torment a camel;
d.. A camel forced to travel whilst pregnant and giving birth in a temporary pen
on bare concrete;
e.. A solitary bear forced to live in a cage on the back of a lorry;
f.. A llama having its ear twisted to make it obey;
g.. An elephant chained in a noisy and frightening environment, in a stadium with
deafening engine noise and flashing lights.

The bill bans the use of both wild and domestic animals in circus shows. The
Commission compromised by allowing 8 years for the implementation of the law. The
bill will next be discussed in the Constitutional Commission and then in the
Plenary.

This positive step forward comes very soon after the bill to ban all animals in
circuses was approved by the Bolivian Congress and it is waiting for the
Presidential assent to become a law. A similar debate was held in the Peruvian
Congress, who last week passed a move to ban animals in circuses in the Agrarian and
Andean Peoples Commission. The bill will soon be discussed in the full parliament.

ADI Head of Parliamentary Affairs, Helder Constantino, who attended the debate in
the Brazilian Commission, says "There is incredible momentum in South America to
secure legislation banning the use of all animals in circuses and Brazil is part of
it. We salute the hard work of the Commission of Education and Culture for not
buckling under the pressure of the circus industry. The video and photographic
evidence that we collected in Brazil, among other places in South America, shows
clearly how animals suffer and are abused in circuses. We hope that the Brazilian
Congress will approve this bill and make and important stand in ending the suffering
of animals in the name of entertainment."