The Los Angeles city council voted to ban the use of wild, exotic animals for entertainment purposes, sending the law to Mayor Eric Garcetti for his final signature. Councilmember David Ryu spearheaded the bill and the vote saw no objection with a 14-0 result.
The new ordinance adds on to SB 313, which banned exotic animals at circuses throughout California in 2019. Now, private house parties are prohibited from entertaining guests with wild animals even if no fee is charged. This includes having the animal perform tricks and give rides.
The ban protects lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, mountain lions, cheetahs, wolves, bears, hyenas, elephants, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, moose, bison, giraffes, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons, macaques, all venomous reptiles and non-venomous reptiles over eight feet. Traditional domesticated animals such as horses are excluded. The LA Zoo and other wildlife keepers who obtain a permit are also exempt.
Councilmember Ryu recalls seeing elephants, giraffes and lions being marched to lavish houses in the Hollywood Hills for a while. If that sounds crazy, it’s not. The tiger from The Hangover, Schicka, was being rented out for $3,000 to club promoters back in 2011.
According to Ryu, the law will be the strongest city ordinance in the United States which protects wild animals.