SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Linda Holmes continues to lead measures to restrict species from owners of traveling animal acts by adding more specific breeds to the list of wildlife banned for this use.
“In 2017, I passed legislation to ban the use of elephants in circuses and other traveling exhibitions that cannot provide the animals adequate living conditions, and we have added more and more species to the ban over the years,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “These animals spend most of their lives in cramped, filthy cages under severe and chronic stress. This cruelty must stop.”
House Bill 4255 would add specific breeds to the offense of unlawful use of animals in traveling acts to include cougars, jaguars, leopards, lions, tigers, non-human primates, bears, and all elephants, not just endangered species. It also adds any hybrids of these animals. Anyone knowingly using a covered animal would be committing a Class A misdemeanor.
According to Humane World for Animals (formerly known as the Humane Society), big cats, non-human primates, bears, and other wild animals used in traveling acts and circuses are caged. Some operators charge premiums to feed, pet, hold, play with or ride the animals, and dangerous animal incidents are increasingly reported across the United States.
Animals used for public handling are typically pulled from their mothers shortly after birth to be hand-raised, a practice that denies newborns critical maternal care. Baby animals with weak immune systems are subjected to stress, neglect, and mistreatment associated with public handling.
“Wild creatures aren’t on this planet for our handling and amusement,” Holmes said. “These out-of-state exhibitors are solely to blame for this exploitation and harm. As county fair and festival season is coming, we hope Illinois families will no longer be exposed to this cruelty.”
House Bill 4255 passed in the Senate Criminal Law Committee Wednesday. It now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
