France Announces Plan to Tackle Various Animal Welfare Topics

​worldanimalnews.com/france-announces-multi-faceted-plan-to-ban-wild-animals-in-traveling-circuses-end-mink-farming-ban-confinement-of-dolphins-orcas-in-captivity/

France has announced a multi-faceted plan to tackle different animal welfare topics with the Minister of Ecological Transition quoted as saying;
“Big cats, elephants, killer whales, dolphins, or even mink, it is time to open a new era in our relationship with these animals,” 
The key areas they plan to address and tackle are:

• Ending Mink Fur Farming
• Gradual Bans on Wild Animals in Traveling Circus'
• Banning the Confinement of Dolphins & Orcas in unsuitable Dolphinariums

MINK FARMING

When it comes to fur farming, there is abhorrent cruelty from start to finish in this industry. First of all, minks are bred solely for fur which means that after they are skinned, their corpses are discarded like trash. Secondly, they are kept in cages often sitting among their own feces and waste, breathing in nonstop ammonia as they await their turn to be skinned, Let's be real here, fur is wholly unnecessary and skinning innocent animals for jackets or purses is despicable behaviour. Considering the general public supports a ban on fur, there should be no argument in defense of banning mink fur.

DOLPHIN / ORCA CAPTIVITY

We all remember the decimation of Sea World. Dolphins and orcas are incredibly social, intelligent creatures and those housed in these Sea World style aquariums live their lives in what would be comparable to a human sized bath tub. They exhibit various signs of emotional distress and boredom and keeping them in these tubs is incredibly cruel and denies them the opportunities to do what naturally comes to them which includes having an entire ocean to move around in. France must join countries like Canada in banning dolphin and orca captivity.

BANNING WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUS'

Frankly, this ban is long overdue given our knowledge of what wild animals in circus' endure. They are trained into submission to perform tricks often through the use of physical abuse. These animals are mentally worn down until they are easily manipulated into performing tricks that are completely unnatural to them. They live their lives in tiny cages between shows where they are transported from city to city to perform again and again. This level of exploitation for human profit and entertainment is disgusting and once again, most citizens support a ban on wild animals in circus'. Considering some of the animals used in these shows are endangered in the wild, there is ​even more urgency in retiring these performing animals to sanctuaries. Many countries have already enacted a ban on wild animals in circus' and France must follow suit.

While the article points out that this will be a gradual process, it is nonetheless a commitment to bettering animal welfare standards in the country. In 2020, we know better than to continue to allow these things. Orcas and dolphins are too intelligent and cherished to be kept in bathtubs their entire lives. An animal's life is significantly more valuable than any jacket, boot, or fur trimmed hood. Wild animals belong in the wild and DEFINITELY NOT in circus', forced to perform. We need to do better by animals, it's as simple as that.

HAPPY VEG