Officials in France have announced plans to ban the breeding of dolphins and orcas in captivity, as well as the use of wild animals in traveling circuses.
In addition, the European nation will also start to "gradually" ban American mink farms used for fur.
[[imagecaption|| The Marineland theme park in Antibes. Credit: PA Images]]
As reported in Le Monde, Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili announced the new sweeping measures today (September 29), stating that the country has to change its "attitude to wild animals".
During a press conference, Pompili said (translated): "It is time that our ancestral fascination with these wild beings no longer translates into situations where their captivity is favored over their well-being."
[[imagecaption|| A mink in captivity at a fur farm. Credit: PA Images]]
The new measures will mean that France's three dolphinariums will also no longer be able to breed new dolphins or killer whales - or have any transported in from other countries.
Pompili added that the use of wild animals in traveling circuses will cease "in the years to come".
[[imagecaption|| Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili. Credit: PA Images]]
The publication states that there are some 500 wild animals in French circuses, for which Pompeli states "solutions will be found on a case-by-case basis, with each circus, for each animal"
She also stressed that the animals can obviously not be "released".
In addition, the minister announced an aid package of eight million euros ($9.3 million) to help circuses and dolphinariums adapt to the new bans.
Pompili did not reveal a precise timetable for the implementation of these measures.
She told reporters: "Setting a date doesn't solve all the problems, I prefer to set up a process to make it happen as quickly as possible."
"We are asking (circuses) to reinvent themselves," she said, adding: "It will be a time when they will need support, and the state will be at their side."
[[imagecaption|| Dolphins perform at The Marineland theme park. Credit: PA Images]]
More than 20 European countries already limit or ban animals in circuses, as have about "400 communities" in France, according to Pompili.