On 18 December 2013 in Brussels, with 127 votes in favour, 3 against and 11 abstentions, the Belgian Parliament approved the bill tabled by Minister Laurette Onkelinx (in charge of Animal Welfare), which bans the use of wild animals in circuses.
Lion - Lionsrock, South Africa, 2011
The government had already expressed its support for this measure, and two weeks earlier the Public Health Committee had also voted in favour of the project. The new law will prohibit the use and keeping of wild animals in circuses.
The Belgian organisation GAIA campaigned for many years to achieve this result, and has expressed its satisfaction, describing it as an important step forward for animal welfare in their country.
You can read the full article (in French) on the GAIA website.
