Mina and Kamala, still struggling within the circus
One Voice leads a nonviolent fight to defend animal rights and respect all life forms. The organization operates independently and is thus free to speak and act freely.
Criticized for its actions with wildlife, the Medrano circus has released their big game this summer. With a great deal of communication, he opened the doors of his business to the public to prove how happy “his” animals were. Many visitors were seduced by his polished speech. And the austere place of detention of the elephants Mina and Kamala has emerged as an idyllic vacation spot for some. Some clarification required here.
It
is well known: “The bigger it is, the more it makes”.
Propagandists of all kinds have understood this for a long time.
Circassians exploiting wild animals in the worst conditions are no
exception to the rule. Some do not hesitate to proclaim their love
for their four-legged “teammates”, their will to act for
the protection of species and respect for other living beings! …
Cirque Medrano is one of them. Behind this false façade are the
charming smiles and beautiful speeches, he prides himself on being
very caring for his “residents” and contributing to a
better world.
In the paradise of the Camargue “jungle”
Thus,
last summer, during its traditional annual break, the troop decided
to open the doors of its business – located in Aimargues (30) – to
the public and the media. “We had the idea of organizing
some guided tours so that people would enjoy approaching the animals,
but also that they would find that they were healthy and happy,”
said the director of the establishment at one of the visits. And hey,
it works! From May to September, young and old were able to access
this “Jungle Park” and its “Ark” to admire
llamas, dromedaries, yaks, cows or ponies “in near freedom”
according to the referent of the site, quoted by Midi Libre. For an
hour this was skilfully orchestrated, tourists also had the
opportunity to be moved by the hugs of a tamer towards her “big
babies” the tigers and to attend one of the “five daily showers”
of elephants Mina and Kamala, the former co-detainees of
Lechmee… The latter, also captured as a child within her free
family in Asia, is finally retired after 40 years of slavery, thanks to the pressure that we exerted on this circus. But the establishment
affirms today, without blushing, to have decided by itself to give
respite to the old lady … Because at Medrano, “we love
animals! “
Mina and Kamala are in danger
Unfortunately,
Mina and Kamala are still subjected to forced labour and ridiculous
acrobatics obtained by the use of pikes. Both in their 50s, they have
sacrificed their lives enough to the whims of their captors. When
will they taste a life of peace and tranquillity? For the moment, it
is enough to observe them, to measure their immense distress. When
they are at rest, not summoned to parade through the streets or hoist
their bruised bodies upon stools, they sink into lethargy. Their
muddy baths only show a slight change to an uninformed public. Their
daily reality is quite different. In a paddock devoid of enrichment,
without the slightest place to take refuge and privacy, watered with
a garden hose that they suck like a rescue straw, they are exposed to
the eyes, their own eyes empty of hope. Like metronomes they swing
their trunks backwards and forwards to every second, they have
nothing to do but follow the tempo of their continual boredom.
Outlaw Circus
By
opening its menagerie to onlookers, the Medrano circus says it wants
to be transparent, but in fact only sprinkles glitter on its
business. Worse, it acts illegally and puts both humans and animals
in danger. As we immediately informed the Prefecture of Gard, the
operator has neither the necessary authorization nor the criteria
required to meet the regulatory obligations of the facilities of
zoological establishments presenting wild individuals to the public.
Regarding Mina and Kamala, they are kept away from children by a
simple low intensity electrical tape! What will happen if one or the
other decides to escape one day?
Following
our alerts, the Prefecture of Gard ended up revoking its circus
permit to open before the start of the summer season. Alas, at the
start of this fall, the itinerant spectacle resumed the road towards
Brittany with, this time, the approval of the Prefect of the
Côtes-d’Armor. We have just ordered him to report the operator’s
offenses again. Will our call be followed up by an answer? If not, we
will take them to court! Whatever happens, we will continue to fight
so that Mina and Kamala get out of this hell hole as quickly as
possible!