San Francisco

Exotic Animal Performances May Soon Be Outlawed in San Francisco

A new ban being proposed in San Francisco may outlaw exotic animal performances in the city.

Legislation sponsored by San Francisco Board of Supervisor Katy Tang, and co-sponsored by Supervisors Scott Wiener and Norman Yee, hopes to amend existing city laws that don't fully protect wild or exotic animals from the poor treatment many of them are forced to experience in the entertainment industry.

The proposal defines “wild or exotic animals” as everything from elephants and orcas – the stars of Ringling Bros. and SeaWorld’s controversial animal performances, respectively – to kangaroos, chimpanzees, and even raccoons.

“San Franciscans are passionate about the humane treatment of animals, and we have a long history of adopting innovative policies to further that goal,”  Wiener said in a statement. “This legislation is an important step to ensure that San Francisco doesn’t participate in the mistreatment of these beautiful and majestic animals.”

Tang, Wiener, and Yee are following in the footsteps of other California jurisdictions that have already approved similar bans, such as Marin County and Los Angeles, and hope to influence many others.

“In San Francisco, we are setting an example as stewards and protectors of nature and its creatures,” said Supervisor Tang. “We want to send a strong message to other jurisdictions throughout the country and the world that abusive conduct toward animals is unacceptable and we are not welcoming of any show that involves forcing animals to behave in ways not found in nature.”

Animals that aren’t considered wild or exotic, such as domestic dogs, cats, and horses, are excluded from the ban, as well as therapy animals.

Animal-friendly attractions like the San Francisco Zoo and the California Academy of Sciences are exempt, too, meaning Claude the albino alligator won’t be evicted from his swamp at the Academy of Sciences any time soon.

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