That’s because Zapopan council has banned circuses from using animal acts and not because Mexico’s most famous circus has decided to change its policy.
In a press conference this week, Atayde impresario Hector Frias explained that his circus is “100 percent in favor of animals,” but respects the rules set out by Zapopan.Frias also dismissed claims that the 120-year-old circus has been guilty of mistreating its animals and said recent videos of circus animal abuse posted on the internet were 20 to 30 years old and had nothing to do with his business. “We have nothing to hide,” he said.
Frias reminded the public that zoos also keep animals in cages and no one is seeking to ban them. He said it was an anomaly that some municipalities are prohibiting the use of circus animals while maintaining traditions such as cockfighting and bullfighting.
In response to these comments, Aldo Muñoz of the civic group Circo Sin Animales, said contrary to the belief of some Mexican circus impresarios, the paying public is more likely to want to go to a circus without animal acts because people’s mentalities have changed.
Muñoz urges Jalisco legislators to follow the lead of the states Querétaro, Morelos and Veracruz that have outlawed performing animals in circuses.