Why Lincoln Park Zoo Supports the Illinois Traveling Animal Act

To help animals that are being subjected to harmful conditions while being transported across the state for entertainment purposes, we must act now. A current bill focusing on improving animal welfare, now under consideration by the Illinois Senate, needs your support.

In 2018, Lincoln Park Zoo championed the passage of the Illinois Traveling Animal Act, prohibiting elephants from being transported across the state for performances—along with New York, the first state to do so. Today, we are thrilled to support a proposed amendment to this legislation that would add primates, bears, and most non-domestic cats like lions and tigers to the Act.

Under this amendment, trade shows, circuses, fairs, and any organizations that travel with these animals would be prevented from operating in the state of Illinois. As animal welfare is always a priority at Lincoln Park Zoo, we urge you to act in favor of this bill.

Case in Point: The Banana Derby

This law is designed to prevent certain companies, such as the Banana Derby, from doing business in Illinois. This entertainment company can be found at county fairs across the country and has been featured in recent years at such events in Illinois. In the Banana Derby, capuchin monkeys dressed in jockey-style clothing ride on dogs in races.

The Banana Derby and similar shows featuring non-domesticated animals, including circuses often cited for subpar conditions, aren’t just harmless forms of entertainment. There are real concerns about animal welfare to consider. Traveling shows that feature animals often do not offer them adequate care, housing, or training. These animals are confined for long periods and may be forced to perform with long-lasting impacts on their wellbeing.

Along with these problems, performing in acts at fairs and circuses removes the element of choice from animals’ lives. Choice is an important part of animal wellbeing, and when animals are forced to travel and to perform they are denied agency. At the Banana Derby, the capuchins are reportedly strapped onto the dogs, making it a stressful, potentially unsafe situation for these intelligent primates.

Lincoln Park Zoo and the State of Illinois Advocate for Animals

Lincoln Park Zoo has a history of advocating for animal welfare. Its commitment to animal wellbeing is based on research by zoo scientists and published in peer-reviewed journals. One such study from 2015 showed that the display of primates in human contexts (such as wearing clothes and doing human activities) harms them individually and hurts their conservation outcomes. This is true even if there’s a caption indicating that a primate in social media images is not a pet.

Making welfare a priority is also a result of long experience caring for animals, such as a troop of chimpanzees behind the scenes who came from non-traditional situations. Two, Eli and Susie, were forced to perform in Hollywood. As a result, zoo staff members have first-hand knowledge of how being in the entertainment industry stunted their development, their behavior, and their relationships with other primates. Through patience, training, and time, staff have actively worked to counteract the damage done by these chimps’ previous careers.

The zoo’s experience in these matters make it important for us to take a stand when it comes to animal wellbeing.

Fortunately, Illinois has also been a pioneer when it comes to animal welfare, being one of the first to ban elephants in traveling shows. It’s time for state legislators to lead once again and expand the legislation to include other animals.

Take Action With Us

You can help! This April, the amended act passed in the Illinois House of Representatives. The final step for this to become law lies with the Illinois State Senate. Please contact your state senator and ask them to cosponsor and vote for the passage of the HB4255 expansion to the Illinois Traveling Animal Act. In order to go into effect this year, the bill must be passed by the Illinois Senate before May 8, so act now!

Visit ilga.gov to find your Illinois senator and use the provided language on this page to contact them and let them know you support this act.