Denmark Buys Country's Remaining Circus Elephants To Let Them Retire

Politicians in Denmark are working on a new law that would make it illegal for circuses to use live animals and hope to have the ban enacted by the end of the year. For now, the country is going to ensure that the last four remaining elephants that are used as circus animals get to retire. The country spent $1.6 million to purchase the elephants and plans to send them to a zoo to live out the rest of their lives.

Officials have not determined which zoo will have the honor of caring for Ramboline, Lara, Djunga, and Jenny but are accepting applications for their long-term care.

Under the current law, only elephants, sea lions, and zebras are allowed to perform in circuses. New legislation being introduced in Parliament will ban the use of those animals as well.

Circuses across the world have been under increased scrutiny with how they treat their animals. While governments have worked to regulate the industry to ensure the animals are treated humanely, one circus in Germany decided to replace living animals with holograms.

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