France said Tuesday it planned to "gradually" ban mink farms in the country as well the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and the breeding of dolphins and orcas in captivity, reports FRANCE 24.
Environment minister Barbara Pompili announced the sweeping measures saying "our attitude to wild animals has changed".
The country's three dolphinariums will also no longer be able to breed or bring in new dolphins or killer whales.
"It is time that our ancestral fascination with these wild beings no longer means they end up in captivity," Pompili added.
Animals rights group PETA hailed the decision as "an historic victory".
"Champagne bottles are being uncorked here. Thank you to all those who have helped bring this about."
The animal charity 30 Million Friends also welcomed the ban, tweeting that the government had taken "the public's demands for the wellbeing of wild animals" into account.
It said it wanted the decisions to be pushed through as quickly as possible.
However, the minister was vague on when the shutters would come down on mink farms and the use of wild animals for entertainment, saying only that it would be in "the years to come".
"Putting a date on it does not solve all the problems," she said.
"I prefer to start a process so that we get there as quickly as possible."
The measures are sure to be resisted by the French fur industry, which has fought a dogged rearguard action in recent years against luxury fashion houses going fur-free.
And it is as yet unclear what the measures will mean for theme parks that stage birds of prey shows.
Pompili said no new dolphinariums will be allowed to be built in France.