While circuses are often marketed as whimsical, family-friendly entertainment, the reality for wild animals behind the scenes is far less magical. Animals such as elephants, lions, and bears are frequently subjected to confinement, constant transportation, and coercive training methods that can lead to physical injury and long-term psychological stress. Many of these species are naturally wide-ranging and highly social, yet in traveling acts they are denied the ability to roam, forage, or engage in normal behaviors—conditions that can contribute to issues like stereotypic pacing and aggression. Investigations into major operations like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus helped expose these concerns to the public, ultimately contributing to a shift in public opinion and policy. Prohibiting the use of wild animals in circuses is not just about improving welfare standards—it reflects a broader recognition that entertainment should not come at the expense of an animal’s basic needs, dignity, and well-being.
As of 2025, twelve states have already banned or restricted the use of wild animals in traveling exhibitions:
- Rhode Island (2016) – banned the use of bullhooks.
- Illinois (2017) – banned the use of elephants in traveling shows.
- New York (2017) – banned the use of elephants in traveling shows.
- New Jersey (2018) – banned the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling shows.
- Hawaii (2018) – banned the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling shows.
- California (2019) – banned the use of all animals in circuses, except for dogs, cats, and domesticated horses.
- Colorado (2021) – banned the use of elephants, big cats, bears, and other animals in circuses and other traveling shows.
- Kentucky (2022) – banned the use of both endangered species in circuses and exotic animals in county fairs, including a ban on elephant rides.
- Virginia (2024) – banned the use of bullhooks.
- Maryland (2024) – banned the use of elephants, big cats, bears, and nonhuman primates in traveling shows and circuses.
- Massachusetts (2024) – banned the use of elephants, big cats, bears, nonhuman primates, and giraffes in traveling shows and circuses.
- Washington (2025) – banned the use of elephants, nondomestic cats and their hybrids, bears, and nonhuman primates in traveling shows and circuses.
Additionally, more than 150 cities and counties across 37 states have restricted or banned the use of wild animals in circuses and traveling shows with more than 1/3 of those laws passing since 2014. Your city could be next.
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