LISBON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese parliament on Tuesday approved a decree to ban the use of wild animals in the circus such as monkeys, lions and elephants.

The law was approved with the ruling Socialist Party (PS), the main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Left Bloc, the Greens (PEV) and PAN (People-Animals-Nature) all voting in favor and CDS-PP voting against. The Portuguese Communist Party abstained.

The new law states that wild animals, which must be registered, can only be used in the circus in a transitional period of six years, after which their use is prohibited and punishable by misdemeanors.