New law bans animals in the ring

La Paz - Bolivia has enacted what animal rights defenders are calling the world's first law that prohibits the use of animals in circuses.

A handful of other countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, but the Bolivian ban includes domestic animals as well.

The law, which states that the use of animals in circuses "constitutes an act of cruelty", took effect on July 1 and operators have a year to comply, according to the bill's sponsor, Representative Ximena Flores.

The law was proposed after an undercover investigation by the non-profit London-based group Animal Defenders o stay there

Flores said authorities are seeking to keep circus operators from killing animals they can no longer use.

"About 50 animals are circulating in national and international circuses at the moment (in Bolivia) and we want to negotiate to make sure that the animals aren't eliminated," she said.

ADI chief executive Jan Creamer called the law "groundbreaking".

The group's undercover investigators in Bolivia worked side-by-side with circus workers and filmed disturbing mistreatment, she said, adding that poorly paid and trained workers routinely abused animals.

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