A worker feeds forage to Zika deer at a farm in Yanbian, Northeast China's Jilin province, on February 6, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

According to local media reports, Guangzhou Zoo said its contract with the circus company ended on Aug 31, after which it required the company to withdraw its troupe, animals and equipment from the rented venue. The circus company objected to it by citing the "heritage list" in its defense.

If the case drags on, the two sides might end up in court, and the result is predictable. By ending its contract with the circus company, Guangzhou Zoo has heeded the nationwide call to end all shows that include animal performances. Some animal rights activists have already praised Guangzhou Zoo for its decision and vowed to seek an end to all animal shows nationwide.

The amendment to the Wildlife Protection Law last year for the first time put the principle of "protection" before "exploitation". And the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a document in 2010 calling for an end to animal shows. These legal and social moves are in accordance with the general trend of animal protection.

That circus has been included in the intangible heritage list is no excuse for continuing to stage animal shows. According to the law, intangible heritage can be protected in various ways, including making video records, publishing books, and training more people to learn them. When an intangible heritage no longer suits modern values, its performance has to stop.