New Animal Bill - France Bans Wild Animals In Circus, Mink Farms and Dolphin Shows

France joins 20 European countries that have either banned or restricted the use of animals for entertainment.

The animal rights legislation has been under debate in France since 2020. Now, the French parliament voted to ban wild animals in circus shows.

The new law, which was signed by President Emmanuel Macron, also includes the ban on dolphin shows and the ban on mink farms. 

Live performances of wild animals will be prohibited (in two years) and owning them outlawed (in seven years). 

The end of mink farming is effective immediately, while the ban on animals in circuses and dolphin shows will be implemented within the next two years.

The new law will raise the maximum penalty for mistreating animals to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($85,000). It will also reinforce the restrictions on the sale of pets. 

The new legislation also ends the use of wild animals in television shows, nightclubs and all kinds of private parties.

France's leading political party Republic on the Move (LREM) party called the new legislation "a historic step in the animal rights combat".

Representative of LREM party and who is also veterinarian Loïc Dombreval, said: "There will inevitably come a day when... we will debate sensitive issues such as hunting, such as bullfighting, or some animal-rearing practices."

The foundation of world-famous French animal activist actress Brigitte Bardot, welcomed "a major advance for the animal rights cause in France". 

However, some of the environmentalists said the new law did not go far enough as it did not include bullfighting, hunting and foie gras farmers. 

Hunting and bullfighting are very sensitive topics in France because they are widely supported in rural areas as traditional and cultural practices.

Farms that make foie gras in France (force-feeding birds such as geese and ducks to artificially bloat their livers) have also been targeted by animal rights campaigners for many years.

According to the latest polls, the majority of French people support the new law, and dozens of towns around the country have already banned circus shows that use animals.