Grijalva Unites Actors, Advocates & Lawmakers in Fight to End Use of Wild and Exotic Animals in Traveling Circuses

March 28th, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation that ends the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling circuses. Grijalva, who previously introduced the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA) in November of 2016, was joined at a press conference announcing the bill’s reintroduction by Republican co-lead, Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA), former Congressman and animal advocate Jim Moran (D-VA), Animal Defenders International (ADI) President Jan Creamer, and CSI stars Jorja Fox (‘Sarah Sidle’) and Eric Szmanda (‘Greg Sanders’).

“Caging exotic animals for entertainment is cruel to the animals and dangerous for their audiences,” Rep. Grijalva said. “Traveling circuses treat the mental health and wellbeing of living creatures as expendable, and they turn a blind eye to the danger of bringing the public into close proximity of wild animals under duress. It’s time to end this practice once and for all.”

“Documented findings raise serious concerns about the systemic inhumane treatment and basic welfare violations of wild and exotic animals in traveling circuses,” Rep. Ryan Costello said. “Our legislation will work to protect these animals from activities that are detrimental to their health, well-being, and general public safety.”

Grijalva’s legislation comes a day after a new short film, ‘The Reluctant Entertainers’, featuring actors, musicians and directors explaining the urgency of this issue, was released. The legislation also follows actions by Ringling Brothers to retire their circus elephants and SeaWorld to end performing Orca shows and breeding. Thirty-four diverse countries around the world and 63 cities and counties in the United States already prohibit use of animals in circuses.

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