Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6589.1

This is the official text of Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6589.1, part of Virginia’s Code of Virginia — the complete compiled statutory law of Virginia, organized into 60+ numbered titles by subject.

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Certain training devices for elephants prohibited; attachment; civil penalty

Official statutory text

A. It is unlawful for any person to (i) use electricity, martingales, or block and tackle, engage in physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring, or breaking of skin, or insert any instrument into any bodily orifice of an elephant to discipline an elephant; (ii) use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, or other device designed to inflict fear or pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant; or (iii) brandish, exhibit, or display any device described in clause (ii) in the presence of an elephant.

B. A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Each incident during which the violation is found to have existed shall constitute a separate offense.

C. The Attorney General, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for the locality may cause an action in equity to be brought in the name of the Commonwealth or of the locality, as applicable, to request an attachment for any devices described in subsection A against a person violating the provisions of this section.

2024, c. 333 .

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

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About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the Open US Law dataset (Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine (Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.