Legality of bestiality by country or territory
Laws affecting zoophilic activities vary across different countries and other sub-national jurisdictions. In general, these laws regulate performing or receiving [...] activity from non-human animals, or the sale, distribution, and ownership of zoophilic [...].
Zoophile-related laws by country or territory
Africa
Northern Africa
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Algeria |
Penalty: Maximum of three years in prison and a fine 10,000 Algerian dinars |
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Canary Islands |
Penalty: Minimum of three months and one day to a maximum of one year of imprisonment and a year disqualification and a day to three years for the exercise of profession, trade or business that is related to animals and animal husbandry |
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Ceuta |
Penalty: Minimum of three months and one day to a maximum of one year of imprisonment and a year disqualification and a day to three years for the exercise of profession, trade or business that is related to animals and animal husbandry |
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Egypt |
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Libya |
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Madeira |
Penalty: |
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Melilla |
Penalty: Minimum of three months and one day to a maximum of one year of imprisonment and a year disqualification and a day to three years for the exercise of profession, trade or business that is related to animals and animal husbandry |
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Morocco |
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Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
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South Sudan |
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Sudan |
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Tunisia |
Penalty: Maximum of three years imprisonment |
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Illegal since June 8, 1966Western Africa
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Benin |
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Burkina Faso |
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Cape Verde |
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Côte d'Ivoire |
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Gambia |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years imprisonment |
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Ghana |
Penalty: Maximum of three years imprisonment |
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Guinea |
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Guinea-Bissau |
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Liberia |
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Mali |
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Mauritania |
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Niger |
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Nigeria |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years imprisonment |
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Senegal |
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Sierra Leone |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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Togo |
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Central Africa
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Cameroon |
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Central African Republic |
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Chad |
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Democratic Republic of the Congo |
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Equatorial Guinea |
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Gabon |
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Republic of the Congo |
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Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha |
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São Tomé and Príncipe |
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Southeast Africa
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Burundi |
Penalty: Minimum of one year imprisonment, maximum of three years imprisonment, fine of fifty thousand to one hundred thousand francs, or both |
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Kenya |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years imprisonment or the common law offense |
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Rwanda |
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Uganda |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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Tanzania |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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Horn of Africa
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Djibouti |
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Eritrea |
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Ethiopia |
Penalty: Imprisonment |
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Somalia |
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Somaliland |
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Indian Ocean States
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
British Indian Ocean Territory |
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Comoros |
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French Southern and Antarctic Lands |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Madagascar |
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Mauritius |
Penalty: Maximum of five years imprisonment |
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Mayotte |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Réunion |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Seychelles |
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Southern Africa
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Angola |
Penalty: A bond of good behavior, being put on probation for a certain period, or internment in a workhouse or agricultural colony for a maximum of three years |
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Botswana |
Penalty: Maximum of seven years imprisonment |
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Lesotho |
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Malawi |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years imprisonment, with or without corporal punishment |
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Mozambique |
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Namibia |
Penalty: Determined by judge |
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South Africa |
Penalty: Determined by judge |
Penalty: Maximum of five years in prison and R200,000 fine |
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Swaziland |
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Zambia |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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Zimbabwe |
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Americas
North America
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Bermuda |
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Canada |
Penalty: Maximum of ten years imprisonment or is guilty of an offense punishable on summary conviction |
Penalty: |
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Greenland |
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Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Legal
Saint Pierre et MiquelonUnited Mexican States
Country, federal district, or state |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Mexico |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Aguascalientes |
Penalty: |
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Baja California |
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Baja California Sur |
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Campeche |
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Chiapas |
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Chihuahua |
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Coahuila |
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Colima |
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Durango |
Penalty: |
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Guanajuato |
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Guerrero |
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Hidalgo |
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Jalisco |
Penalty: |
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Michoacán |
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Morelos |
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Mexico |
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Mexico City |
Penalty: |
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Nayarit |
Penalty: |
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Nuevo León |
Penalty: |
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Oaxaca |
Penalty: Maximum of one year in prison and a fine of 800 days of salary |
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Puebla |
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Querétaro |
Penalty: |
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Quintana Roo |
Penalty: |
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San Luis Potosí |
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Sinaloa |
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Sonora |
Penalty: |
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Tabasco |
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Tamaulipas |
Penalty: |
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Tlaxcala |
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Veracruz |
Penalty: |
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Yucatán |
'Penalty: |
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Zacatecas |
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UnknownUnited States
Central America
In the early 2000s, [...] with animals was legal in all Central American countries except Belize. From 2011 to 2017, all Central American countries banned it.
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Belize |
Penalty: Maximum of ten years imprisonment |
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Clipperton Island |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Costa Rica |
Penalty: |
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El Salvador |
Penalty: |
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Guatemala |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
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Honduras |
Penalty: Seizure of animals, and 10 minimum salaries to 25 minimum salaries |
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Nicaragua |
Penalty: |
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Panama |
Penalty: |
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Caribbean
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Anguilla |
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Antigua and Barbuda |
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Aruba |
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Bahamas |
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Barbados |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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British Virgin Islands |
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Caribbean Netherlands |
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Cayman Islands |
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Cuba |
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Curaçao |
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Dominica |
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Dominican Republic |
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Grenada |
Penalty: Maximum of ten years imprisonment |
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Guadeloupe |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
Penalty: Maximum of dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 5 years. |
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Haiti |
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Jamaica |
Penalty: Maximum of ten years imprisonment and hard labor |
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Martinique |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Montserrat |
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Puerto Rico |
Penalty: Maximum of 6 months in prison and a $25,000 fine |
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Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Saint Kitts and Nevis |
Penalty: Maximum of four years imprisonment, with or without hard labor for buggery |
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Saint Lucia |
Penalty: Unknown |
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Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Penalty: Maximum of ten years imprisonment |
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Sint Maarten |
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Trinidad and Tobago |
Penalty: |
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Turks and Caicos Islands |
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United States Virgin Islands |
Penalty: Maximum of five years imprisonment |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
Saint Barthélemy
Saint MartinSouth America
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Argentina |
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Bolivia |
Penalty: Maximum of 1 year imprisonment and a fine of 60 days, or lose work benefits of 6 months |
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Brazil |
Penalty: Maximum of three years imprisonment or a minimum of 1 year imprisonment, and a fine |
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Chile |
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Colombia |
Penalty: Maximum of 63 months imprisonment or a minimum of 21 months imprisonment, special inability of 1.75 to 5.25 years for the exercise of profession, trade, trade or tenure related to animals, and a maximum fine of 105 minimum wages or a minimum of 8.75 minimum wages |
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Ecuador |
Penalty: Maximum of 8 years in prison |
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Falkland Islands |
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French Guiana |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Guyana |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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Paraguay |
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Peru |
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Suriname |
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Uruguay |
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Venezuela |
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Asia
Central Asia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Kazakhstan |
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Kyrgyzstan |
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Tajikistan |
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Turkmenistan |
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Uzbekistan |
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Eurasia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Akrotiri and Dhekelia |
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Armenia |
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Cyprus |
Penalty: |
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Georgia |
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Northern Cyprus |
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Western Asia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Bahrain |
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Iran |
Penalty: First three convictions are determined by a judge |
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Iraq |
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Israel |
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Jordan |
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Kuwait |
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Lebanon |
Penalty: Maximum of one year imprisonment |
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Oman |
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Palestine |
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Qatar |
Penalty: Maximum of capital punishment |
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Saudi Arabia |
Penalty: Maximum of capital punishment |
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Syria |
Penalty: Maximum of three years imprisonment |
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United Arab Emirates |
Penalty: Maximum of capital punishment |
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Yemen |
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Southern Asia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan |
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Bangladesh |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment (Unenforced) |
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Bhutan |
Penalty: Maximum of one year imprisonment |
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India |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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Maldives |
Penalty: Maximum of thirty months imprisonment |
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Nepal |
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Pakistan |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment (Unenforced) |
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Sri Lanka |
Penalty: Maximum of ten years imprisonment (Unenforced) |
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Eastern Asia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
China |
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Hong Kong |
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Japan |
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Macau |
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Mongolia |
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North Korea |
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South Korea |
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Taiwan |
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Southeast Asia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Brunei |
Penalty: Maximum of capital punishment |
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Myanmar |
Penalty: Maximum of life imprisonment |
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Cambodia |
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East Timor |
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Laos |
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Malaysia |
Penalty: Maximum of twenty years imprisonment and shall also be liable to whipping |
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Philippines |
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Singapore |
Penalty: Maximum of two years in prison and fine (Unenforced) |
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Thailand |
Penalty: Maximum of one year in prison and a fine of up to Bt20,000 |
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Vietnam |
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Republic of Indonesia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Indonesia |
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Aceh |
Penalty: Maximum of being whipped one hundred times |
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Bali |
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Bangka–Belitung Islands |
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Banten |
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Bengkulu |
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Central Java |
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Central Kalimantan |
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Central Sulawesi |
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East Java |
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East Kalimantan |
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East Nusa Tenggara |
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Gorontalo |
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Jakarta |
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Jambi |
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Lampung |
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Maluku |
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North Kalimantan |
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North Maluku |
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North Sulawesi |
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North Sumatra |
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Papua |
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Riau |
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Riau Islands |
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Southeast Sulawesi |
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South Kalimantan |
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South Sulawesi |
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South Sumatra |
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West Java |
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West Kalimantan |
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West Nusa Tenggara |
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West Papua |
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West Sulawesi |
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West Sumatra |
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Yogyakarta |
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Europe
Central Europe
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Austria |
Penalty: |
Penalty: Maximum of a year imprisonment and a fine of 360 day’s rates |
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Croatia |
Penalty: |
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Czech Republic |
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Penalty: Maximum of a 1-year imprisonment, prohibition to undertake an activity, or to confiscation of a thing or another property value |
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Germany |
Penalty: Maximum of a €25,000 fine |
Penalty: Maximum of a fine or 3 years imprisonment |
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Hungary |
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Penalty: |
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Liechtenstein |
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Poland |
Penalty: Maximum of 3 years in prison, donation to animal welfare charity and prohibition of owning an animal for up to 10 years (If done in order to distribute or sell the penalty is increased to a minimum of 6 months and maximum of 8 years in prison) |
Penalty: Maximum 5 years to a minimum of 3 months imprisonment |
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Romania |
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Slovakia |
Penalty: |
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Slovenia |
Penalty: |
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Switzerland |
Penalty: Imprisonment (In the case of repeated or serious infringements, authorities may prohibit the keeping or breeding of animals for trade or professional occupation) |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
Eastern Europe
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Abkhazia |
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Armenia |
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Azerbaijan |
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Belarus |
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Georgia |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
Kazakhstan |
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Moldova |
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Artsakh |
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Russia |
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Penalty: |
Penalty: |
South Ossetia |
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Transnistria |
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Ukraine |
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Northern Europe
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Denmark |
Penalty: Fine or a maximum of 4 months in prison |
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Estonia |
Penalty: |
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Faroe Islands |
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Finland |
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Penalty: |
Penalty: |
Iceland |
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Latvia |
Penalty: |
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Lithuania |
Penalty: |
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Norway |
Penalty: Fine and/or maximum of 3 years in prison. |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
Sweden |
Penalty: Fine, maximum of 2 years imprisonment, or both |
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Southern Europe
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Albania |
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Andorra |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Bulgaria |
Penalty: |
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Gibraltar |
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Greece |
Penalty: |
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Italy |
Penalty: |
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Macedonia |
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Malta |
Penalty: |
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Montenegro |
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Portugal |
Penalty: |
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San Marino |
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Serbia |
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Spain |
Penalty: Minimum of three months and one day to a maximum of one year of imprisonment and a year disqualification and a day to three years for the exercise of profession, trade or business that is related to animals and animal husbandry |
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Turkey |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years imprisoment |
Penalty: Minimum of one year imprisonment and a maximum of four years imprisonment |
Penalty: Minimum of one year imprisonment and a maximum of four years imprisonment |
Vatican City |
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Western Europe
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Belgium |
Penalty: Maximum of 6 months in prison and a fine of €1,000 |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
France |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Guernsey |
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Ireland |
|
name="irishlaws"}} Penalty: Maximum of life in prison |
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Isle of Man |
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Jersey |
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Luxembourg |
Penalty: |
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Monaco |
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Netherlands |
Penalty: Maximum of 1 year in prison and €19,500 fine |
Penalty: Maximum imprisonment 6 months or a fine of €7,800 |
Penalty: Maximum imprisonment 6 months or a fine of €7,800 |
United Kingdom |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison for conviction on indictment |
Penalty: Maximum of 12 months imprisonment in England or 6 months imprisonment in Northern Ireland, a fine, or both on summary conviction |
Penalty: Maximum of 12 months imprisonment in England or 6 months imprisonment in Northern Ireland, a fine, or both on summary conviction |
Oceania
Australasia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
New Zealand |
Penalty: Maximum of 7 years in prison ("bestiality") |
Penalty: |
Penalty: |
Commonwealth of Australia
Country, state, or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Australia |
N/A |
Penalty: |
N/A |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands |
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Australian Antarctic Territory |
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Australian Capital Territory |
Penalty: Maximum ten years imprisonment |
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Christmas Island |
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Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Coral Sea Islands |
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Heard Island and McDonald Islands |
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Jervis Bay Territory |
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New South Wales |
Penalty: Maximum fourteen years imprisonment |
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Norfolk Island |
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Northern Territory |
Penalty: Maximum three years imprisonment |
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Queensland |
Penalty: Maximum seven years imprisonment |
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South Australia |
Penalty: Maximum ten years imprisonment |
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Tasmania |
Penalty: Maximum twenty one years imprisonment |
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Victoria |
Penalty: Maximum five years imprisonment |
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Western Australia |
Penalty: Maximum seven years imprisonment |
|
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Melanesia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Fiji |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years in prison with corporal punishment |
|
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New Caledonia |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
|
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Papua New Guinea |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years in prison |
|
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Solomon Islands |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years in prison |
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Vanuatu |
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Micronesia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
Guam |
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Federated States of Micronesia |
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Kiribati |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years in prison |
|
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Marshall Islands |
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Nauru |
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Northern Mariana Islands |
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Palau |
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Polynesia
Country or territory |
Zoosexual activity |
Sale and distribution of zoophilic [...] |
Ownership of zoophilic [...] |
|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa |
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Easter Island |
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Cook Islands |
Penalty: Maximum of seven years in prison |
|
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French Polynesia |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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Niue |
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Pitcairn Islands |
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Samoa |
Penalty: Maximum of five years in prison |
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Tokelau |
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Tonga |
Penalty: Maximum of ten years in prison |
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Tuvalu |
Penalty: Maximum of fourteen years in prison |
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United States Minor Outlying Islands |
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Wallis and Futuna |
Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and €30,000 fine |
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See also
- Animal trial
- Human–animal marriage
- Legal status of internet [...]
- [...] norm
- Social norm
- Sodomy law
- Sudanese goat marriage incident
- Zoophilia