Certain Wild Animals to be Banned from Circus Performances in Hungary
- 10 Aug 2026 9:37 AM
The government will introduce a ban on acquiring, breeding, keeping, training, displaying or using specified wild animal species and hybrids in circus performances from Jan 1 2027, government spokeswoman Eva Magyar said.
Detailing a cabinet decision at a press briefing, she explained that in recent years, there has been growing public and animal welfare demand to end the use of wild animals in circuses.
This trend is clear across Europe, with member states increasingly restricting or banning such practices, she said.
Magyar noted that Hungary's previous partial ban allowed wild animals from countries with stricter regulations to be moved to Hungarian menageries.
She described the new ban as justified on both animal welfare and safety grounds, citing that the keeping, transporting, training and public display of wild animals conflicts with modern animal welfare standards and poses accident risks.
The regulation includes a fair transition period, she said, explaining that animals legally kept at the time of implementation may remain with their current owners for the rest of their lives or as long as they are part of the menagerie, but they cannot be bred, trained, displayed or used in circus performances.
The government has not yet published the full list of wild animals that will be covered by the ban, saying it will be set out in implementing regulations before the new rules take effect. The detailed list is expected to be finalised in due course.
While the final list has yet to be released, it is expected to include elephants, rhinoceroses, primates such as apes and monkeys, and big cats including lions and tigers, along with other protected exotic wild animals commonly used in circuses.
Animal welfare organisations have welcomed the move as bringing Hungary into line with a growing number of European countries that have introduced similar restrictions.
Photo: Budapest Zoo
Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.
*********************************************************************************************
You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page:
Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoop’s groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary
You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters
LATEST NEWS IN entertainment