text: Denmark has finally passed a law banning bestiality in an attempt to crack down on perverts visiting the country to have sex with animals. The Nordic country decided to tighten up its laws amid reports of animal sex shows, clubs and even animal brothels frequented by tourists taking advantage of its lax regulations. The previous law only stipulated a ban on intercourse which harmed the animals. New law: The Danish government bought in tougher legislation amid fears their relaxed legal stance on bestiality was making the country a destination for people who wanted to have sex with animals . But agricultural minister Dan Jorgensen pointed out it was difficult to prove whether or not the animal had been harmed. 'The current legislation does not protect the animals . enough,' he wrote in an opinion piece. 'It's hard to prove that an animal suffers when a human . has sexual intercourse with it, and that is why we must give the . animal the benefit of the doubt.' Those voting for the bill said Denmark did not want to . remain the last northern European country where bestiality was . legal, as this was attracting animal sex tourists. Germany, . Norway, Sweden and Britain previously banned it. 'There are frequent reports of the occurrence of organised . animal sex shows, clubs and animal brothels in Denmark,' the . Danish Ethical Council for Animals, an independent advisory . board under the food and agriculture ministry, said in a report, . while adding that it had not been able to verify the reports. Tourist destination: There were reports of animal sex shows, clubs and even brothels in the Nordic country . An investigation by the now defunct Danish newspaper 24timer about 10 years ago found animal owners were openly advertising their animals' services 'for sale', for between £57 and £113 - depending on what was required. More recently, a 2011 Justice Ministry report surveyed veterinarians and . found 17 percent of them suspected that an animal they treated . had had intercourse with a human. The advent of the internet no doubt helped the boom in animal sex tourism: there are entire forums dedicated to helping people swap advice on bestiality, as well as pornography. The move leaves few countries in the world where bestiality is still legal: within Europe, it leaves just Finland, Romania and Hungary. In the United States, laws surrounding bestiality vary from state to state: Vermont, New Hampshire and Ohio are some of the states where there is no law against it.
target: Denmark's previous law only banned bestiality if it harmed the animal .
  Decided to toughen up laws after it became a stop for animal sex tourists .
  There are reports of animal sex shows, clubs and even animal brothels .
  Almost one in five vets suspect they have treated an bestiality victim .