Proposed law to protect great apes and end their captivity

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would recognize great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans) as holders of rights derived from their nature, such as living free in their natural habitat and not suffering abuse, without equating them to humans.
2. It would ban breeding in captivity, trade, experimentation, use in shows or advertising, and the killing of great apes. Keeping them would only be allowed in authorized centers, and euthanasia only on veterinary criteria to prevent suffering.
3. It would create the State Register of Great Apes (Registro Estatal de Grandes Simios), with mandatory registration and public, free-access information, plus an advisory committee that advises and reports on authorized transfers.
4. Transfers within Spain would only be allowed for behavioral reasons, overcrowding or welfare improvements, and transfers abroad only to sanctuaries, never for breeding in captivity.
5. It would set up a penalty system with fines from €500 to €200,000 depending on whether the offense is minor, serious or very serious, plus additional measures such as closing centers or banning people from keeping great apes.
6. Centers that already have great apes would have 12 months to request a keeping permit and 24 months to adapt; the law would take effect three months after publication in the official state gazette.

Who it affects

• Zoos and authorized centers: They would have to request permits, register the animals, prevent breeding, and meet housing conditions and emergency plans.
• People keeping great apes without authorization: This would be a very serious offense, and authorities could rescue the animals and move them to approved centers.
• Spain's autonomous communities: They would handle welfare and keeping permits, and carry out annual inspections of facilities.
• Ministries acting as the CITES authority: They would manage the register, transfers and penalty proceedings.

Words worth knowing

CITES

An international treaty regulating trade in endangered species. The 'autoridad administrativa CITES' is the Spanish state body that applies it.

Santuario (sanctuary)

An authorized center for housing great apes for reintroduction into the wild or permanent care, with no breeding, public display or commercial exploitation.

Medidas cautelares (precautionary measures)

Temporary decisions, such as taking custody of an animal or closing a center, taken during proceedings to protect the animals while the case is resolved.

Protección in situ (in situ protection)

Protection carried out in the species' natural habitat, not in captivity.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries