The international animal rights group PETA has praised the decision to ban the use of wild animals at circuses in Ireland.
The ban on the use of animals such as tigers and camels comes into force here on January 1st.
The regulation, signed by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, does not extend to horses or other domesticated animals.
Minister Creed said: “The use of wild animals for entertainment purposes in circuses can no longer be permitted.
"This is the general view of the public at large and a position I am happy to endorse."
PETA Director Elisa Allen praised Minister Creed for bringing Ireland in line with other countries such as Austria, Belgium and Mexico.
She observed: "Our understanding of who animals such as elephants, zebras, and lions are is expanding, and we now know that a circus can never come close to meeting their complex needs.
"They are chronically frustrated, stressed, and depressed from a lifetime of being denied the opportunity to do anything that's natural and important to them, kept caged in trailers that are hauled around the country, and forced to perform confusing tricks under the big top in some Victorian era form of amusement."
She called on other countries, including England, to introduce similar bans.