Victory: Illinois Governor Signs Law Protecting Big Cats, Primates, and Bears in Traveling Acts

Update (July 6, 2026): This bill passed in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and was signed by the governor! Illinois has officially banned the use of big cats, non-human primates, and bears in traveling acts, building on an existing prohibition of traveling elephant displays. After a flood of support for the bill from PETA supporters and animal defenders across Illinois, both houses of the Illinois legislature and the governor were convinced that using wild animals in traveling acts was wrong, and should be outlawed. Victory!

If you have a minute, please consider speaking up for animals forced to perform in traveling acts in states that haven’t enacted a ban!

Original post:

If signed into law, this bill will expand existing legislation prohibiting the use of elephants in traveling acts to include big cats such as lions and tigers , non-human primates, and bears. Animals suffer tremendously in these types of traveling acts and are often trained with cruel and vicious methods. Circuses and traveling exhibitors have been caught whipping and confining lions and tigers, leashing monkeys to dogs and racing them, and beating and punishing bears to get them to do confusing and meaningless tricks. Long story short, it is unacceptable that this clear animal abuse has not been outlawed already.