Mexico City Lawmakers to Be Presented With Award for Banning Animal Circuses

Kate del Castillo Narrates Disturbing Ringling Bros. Exposé of Cruelty to Elephants, Tigers, Bears

For Immediate Release:
June 12, 2014

Contact:
Renée Saldaña 202-483-7382

Circuses that use and abuse animals are facing a backlash in countries around the world. And more and more governments are laying down the law, including the Federal District Legislative Assembly in Mexico City, which just banned the use of elephants, tigers, bears, camels, and all other animals in circuses. That’s why tomorrow, U.S.–based PETA, Mexico-based Faunapolis, and Latin America– and Spain-based AnimaNaturalis are presenting the assembly with a Compassionate Action Award  for adopting a law that’s sure to inspire other cities and countries to follow suit.

Where:   Office of María de los Ángeles Moreno Uriegas, Nicolás San Juan 1549, Rm. 701, Mexico City

When:    Friday, June 13, noon

“Mexico City has distinguished itself by taking a lead in the international battle against cruel animal circuses,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “Beating elephants with bullhooks, whipping tigers in the face, and forcing animals to perform under the threat of punishment are now off limits in Mexico City, and we’re thanking lawmakers for making that so.”

The new law will take effect in one year, and the fine for violating it will range from $45,000 to $60,000. The decision comes on the heels of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Mexico City shows, which PETA Latino protested. Earlier this year, Mexican actor Kate del Castillo narrated a powerful circus exposé for PETA Latino and called on arenas never to host Ringling again. In the video, Ringling trainers can be seen striking and hooking elephants with sharp metal-tipped bullhooks and tormenting baby elephants, who were torn away from their protective mothers and forced into cruel and painful training.

Former Ringling employees have reported that elephants are routinely abused and violently beaten with bullhooks in order to force them to perform tricks. Ringling has been cited numerous times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and paid the largest fine in U.S. circus history for animal welfare violations.

For more information, please visit PETA Latino’s blog.