Historic News! The Hometown Of PT Barnum, Founder Of Ringling Bros. Circus Becomes 2nd City In Connecticut To Ban The Use Of Wild Animals In Circuses

In the midst of the history-making midterm elections, another important vote was taking place in the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, during which the City Council voted unanimously to ban wild animal circus acts.

Marking it the second city in the state after Stamford to pass such a ban. The ruling is especially significant because Bridgeport is where PT Barnum lived and was mayor.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) supported the historic measure sponsored by Councilmember Kyle Langan and Councilmember Marcus Brown, and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Denese Taylor-Moye, Jeanette Herron, Pete Spain, Michelle Lyons, Eneida Martinez, and Karen Jackson.

“As the home of PT Barnum, we’ve taken a symbolic step that proclaims we’ve learned from the past and emphatically decided to move forward in a more progressive and compassionate way,” Councilmember Langan said in a statement. “Thank you to ADI and all the advocates who supported us along the way.”

Studies and evidence show that the health and welfare of animals in traveling circuses is inevitably compromised due to small, barren, mobile accommodations, restricted movement, long journeys, and excessive periods of time spent in transporters and containers.

ADI is among the organizations that are exposing the brutal training methods through undercover investigations, documenting the systemic violence and abuse occurring in the United States and around the world.

Proving that attitudes are changing with the times, American audiences have been turning away from animal circuses in droves; several have closed, including Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, while others have gone animal-free. Bridgeport and 87 jurisdictions in 31 states have taken action to restrict wild animals from traveling circuses.

As previously reported by WAN, New York City and San Francisco both have bans on wild animal circus acts; Los Angeles is working on a ban as well.

Other states are also considering bans on wild animal circus acts, with both New Jersey and Hawaii close to statewide bans.

A federal bill to end the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling shows nationwide, Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act, is gaining bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives. 45 countries have also passed national restrictions on the use of animals in traveling circuses.

“We’re thrilled that people are finally listening and progress is being made to help protect these beautiful species from exploitation.” -Katie Cleary