AnimaNaturalis has taken decisive legal action to prevent the holding of the "Christmas Circus 2025" show in Valencia, after promoters announced the participation of around thirty animals—including boas, pythons, anacondas, and emus—in their new "Zoorprising" show.

We have submitted a preventive request for authorization denial to Valencia City Council and the Valencian Regional Government, warning of the "absolute legal unviability" of granting the license. The presence of these wild species directly violates Article 25.e) of Law 7/2023, which expressly prohibits the use of wild fauna in circus shows throughout Spanish territory.

Law 7/2023, on the protection of animal rights and welfare, leaves no room for doubt:

"The following is prohibited [...] the use of animals belonging to wild fauna species in circus shows."

The legal text does not contemplate exceptions or transitional periods. In fact, the six-month period granted to circuses to cease their activities with wild fauna has already expired, so "there is currently no transitional regime or legal exception that protects this type of show," states Cristina Ibáñez, lawyer for AnimaNaturalis.

Despite this, the promoters of the "Christmas Circus" have claimed their activity complies with regulations, arguing that the animals were born in captivity or come from an authorized zoological facility. However, AnimaNaturalis warns that this argument is legally erroneous. "The law clearly defines what is understood as wild fauna, and it also includes specimens born in captivity. Being bred by humans does not turn them into domestic animals," emphasizes Ibáñez.

"A Disregard for the Law and for Animals"

Aïda Gascón, director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain, expressed her concern about what she considers an attempt to circumvent the law: "It is unacceptable and a disregard for the law that, just months after the national Animal Welfare Law came into effect, a circus tries to bypass the prohibition with fallacious arguments. The law is clear: the announced presence of boas, dromedaries, and emus is illegal, period. It doesn't matter if they were born in captivity; they are still wild fauna, and their use in circuses is prohibited."

"The City Council has the obligation to deny authorization preventively. Allowing this show would be a flagrant violation of legislation, with possible fines of up to 200,000 euros for the promoters. Valencia must be an example of animal ethics, not an accomplice to an obsolete business that violates animal rights."

Valencia, Put to the Test by the New Animal Welfare Law

The "Christmas Circus" case represents a crucial test for the effective application of the new national law. Although the Valencian Community had already prohibited the use of wild animals in circuses years ago, this law reinforces the legal framework and extends the prohibition to the entire national territory.

We remind that there is no longer any legal basis to allow shows with wild fauna and that its authorization could lead to legal consequences for the involved administrations.

AnimaNaturalis encourages citizens to demand compliance with the law and to make their voices heard by the Valencian authorities. "We want a Christmas free from animal exploitation. The circus can still be magic, but without suffering," concludes Gascón.

We make available to the public a template for a citizen protest letter to send to Valencia City Council and the Valencian Regional Government, requesting the immediate denial of the license for the "Christmas Circus 2025" due to the illegal use of wild fauna.