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A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus elephant exits its train car as it prepares to participate in the walk to the United Center Nov. 14, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
Paraguay is the latest country to ban the use of wild animals in circus performances.
The South American country confirmed with the Animal Defenders International (ADI) conservation group that it has enacted the ban.
The group launched an investigation across South America in 2007 and since then, several states have ended using wild animals in circuses, such as Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Worldwide there are over 20 countries with bans, according to ADI.
“This confirms how people all over the world are realizing that it is no longer acceptable to confine, deprive and abuse animals in the name of entertainment,” ADI head Jan Creamer said in the statement.
The United States and U.K., which Creamer notes in the statement have so far not passed bans, have “have fallen” behind on the issue.
However, the group noted that “similar laws are being discussed” there too.
Currently, the Travelling Exotic Animal Protection Act is before Congress which prohibits the participation of exotic or wild animal in an act if the animal traveled in a mobile housing facility in the 15 days prior. This would effectively ban traveling circuses from using such animals.
The U.K. government also recently declared its intention to introduce a ban.
The bans cover common circus animals such as lions, elephants, and monkeys.
