As the society gets more informed about the factual face of circus, more countries choose to ban the use of animals, especially wild species, in circus. Many countries have enforced a ban on using any wild species, for example, Belgium, Croatia, Austria, Bolivia, Peru, Greece, Cyprus, , , , , , , Israel>, and Ireland.
Several countries have set limitations regarding animals that are allowed to be used in circus.
Finland banned the use of monkeys, elephants, seals, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, peacocks, crocodiles, ruminants, ungulates, marsupials, predators and birds of prey in 1996.
Denmark has banned the use of non-domestic animals in circus shows, except Asian elephants, camels and llamas, because it is possible to tame these animals in their countries of origin.
Sweden has banned the use of monkeys, predators, pinnipeds (except sea lions), rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, deers (except reindeers), giraffes, cangoroos, birds of prey, secretarybirds and crocodiles in circus shows as well as systematically transporting them and showing to the public.
Bulgaria has banned the use of wild mammals in circus (this law will be enforced in 2015 after a transition period).
Czech Republic has banned the use of new-born primates, walruses, seals, whales, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses and giraffes. Estonia has banned to use wild-born animals in circus shows.
Hungary banned the use of animals captured in the wild in circus shows and the purchase and training of young primates and elephants,
as well as the spiecies named in CITES Appendix I in 2010.
as well as the spiecies named in CITES Appendix I in 2010.
Poland has banned the use of wild-born animals in circus.
Italy has strong regulations regarding the animal welfare, circus shows and the animal-human contact and, besides that, a municipality may not allow a circus to perform in the territory of the country if wild animals are used in the shows.