Hawaii just became the first U.S. state to ban the use of elephants, bears and other exotic wild animals for entertainment purposes. Inga Gibson, Hawaii senior state director for the Humane Society, told HuffPost the issue is not only one of animal welfare, but also public health and safety. And in Hawaii — a state well known for its spirit of aloha and values of respect for the environment — the ban is a “long time coming,” she said.
“Hawaii has now set an example for other states to take the next step,” Gibson said.