The public showing of animals is allowed with animals, whose characteristic behavioral traits or way of life enable to show them without damaging the health of the animal. The list of those animal species or subspecies, who are allowed to be presented on exhibitions, competitions, fairs, auctions or other public events concerning the gathering of animals, will be set by the minister of the field this question pertains to, which in this case is the minister of rural affairs. This regulation does not extend to cover zoos with an activity license, spokespeople for the Estonian parliament said.

Altogether 83 MPs voted in favor of the bill of amendments.

Estonian animal rights organizations Loomus and Loomade Nimel thanked all politicians who voted in favor of the law, the Ministry of Rural Affairs, the parliament's rural affairs committee, animal protection organizations and other supporters, thanks to whom the biggest victory in the history of animal protection in Estonia can be celebrated.

"The Riigikogu's decision can be deemed big, as it concerns the life of very many animals in the future," Kadri Taperson, head of Loomus, said in a press release. "In reality, animal rights activists today fulfilled a promise to Med the elephant, who died in Estonia in 2013. It is especially after that tragic event that negotiatins began between animal rights activists and officials concerning the use of wild animals in circuses."

Loomade Nimel began organizing demonstrations against zoos approximately ten years ago already.

"The Riigikogu's decision today has significant meaning for us," Loomade Nimel spokesperson Anita Jürson said. "I am happy to acknowledge that the result of years of raising awareness is a big step toward a more animal-friendly society. Thanks to this law, no wild animal will have to suffer in circuses in the future due to unsuitable living conditions or training methods."

Loomus and Loomade Nimel promised to continue work to ban the use of all animals in circuses in Estonia.