Gov. David Ige has signed an amendment to Hawaii law prohibiting the importation of dangerous, wild animals for exhibition in circuses and carnivals in Hawaii, a move that was applauded by animal rights advocates but is surely a blow to carnival operators like E.K. Fernandez Shows.
Ige signed the amendment to the administrative rule Friday, and the new rules go into effect 10 days after it is filed with the lieutenant governor’s office.
“The main issue is always public safety and health,” said Ige in a news release. “The concern of exhibiting dangerous animals in an environment where a large number of people may be exposed is significant enough to establish these rules.”
The amended rules on animal importation were approved by the state Board of Agriculture in September and forwarded to the governor for final approval.
Under the amended rules, “dangerous wild animals” are defined as “a non-domestic animal that can cause significant risk to animal and public health, according to the state Department of Agriculture. These include lions, tigers, cheetahs, bears, wolves, elephants, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, alligators, gorillas, and chimpanzees.”
The rule does allow importing these types of animals for exhibition in government zoos and for the filming of television and movies under permit and conditions from the state Department of Agriculture.
“The decision process on this matter has been a long one with extensive efforts to gather public input,” said Scott Enright, chairman of the Board of Agriculture, in a statement.
The issue was first heard by the board in 2014, and although the petition was initially denied, the board requested that the state Department of Agriculture conduct further research, and the matter was heard at several public meetings before the final decision was made in September.
E.K. Fernandez Shows has opposed the rules, describing them in the past as “regulatory overreach.”
The Hawaiian Humane Society cheered the news. “This is an incredible victory for people and animals,” said Society President and CEO Lisa Fowler in a press release.
In 1994 an elephant named Tyke killed her trainer during a performance at the Blaisdell Arena and fled, ultimately being shot to death in the street. The Hawaiian Humane Society said the new rules would ensure this didn’t happen again.
Star-Advertiser reporter Sophie Cocke contributed to this story.
