A bill protecting elephants from the abusive conditions in the entertainment industry took effect in New York on Saturday.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Elephant Protection Act in 2017, which banned the use of elephants in entertainment acts within the state, including their use in circuses, carnivals, and parades.
At the time Cuomo said, “The use of elephants in these types of settings is dangerous to their health and potentially abusive. The Elephant Protection Act furthers this administration’s efforts to fight animal cruelty, and create a stronger, more humane New York.”
Although the bill was signed into law in 2017, it did not take effect until two years following its passage.
If elephants are used in an entertainment act now, the entertainer could face a fine of $1,000.
The issue of protecting elephants became a top priority for New York following a report from Pace University that found that elephants used in circuses had half the life expectancy of other elephants.
The report outlined the practice of beating elephants, limited mobility, and psychological stress as three of the contributing factors that led to early deaths for circus elephants.
