17 years of fighting for Samba and the State still refuses to open their eyes
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.
It’s been Seventeen years now since we’ve been fighting for Samba’s release. Initially scheduled for December 2018, postponed until 27th June 2019, the hearing was confirmed by the Administrative Court of Marseille only last moment. Our 2017 lawsuit against the Bouches-du-Rhône Prefecture has therefore been heard. The court rejected our request preferring to believe the Prefecture, which claims that everything is fine because – among other things – the protective barriers are at a regulatory distance. For the elephant and other wild animals held by the circus of Europe, we will appeal the decision!
A long drawn out battle
For
more than two years, we have been waiting for the Prefect of
Bouches-du-Rhône, who is responsible for the well-being of captive
wildlife on its territory, to reverse the order they made in 2017
authorizing the exploitation of Samba. Despite the evidence of her
poor health, the Prefect made the implicit decision to refuse our
request to repeal this decree: he did not respond to anything !
On June 27th,
there was a question in Marseille about our request to repeal the
Prefectural decree of May 15th,
2017, according to which Max Aucante, who is the owner of the Cirque
d’Europe, he is authorized to open his establishment, to hold and
present animals. Among them, tigers, baboons and Samba, which he renamed Tania after a previous procedure opposing us in the early
2000s. This petition against the Prefecture also contains our request
for immediate transfer of Samba to a sanctuary. At 32 and still
suffering the daily humiliation, it is more than time that she can
rest and have a life worthy of her name !
The State is blind and deaf, but not silent …
Our
request, the purpose of which is to put the State in charge of its
responsibilities, shows once again with this rejection, how much it
refuses to open its eyes. The reports of the DDPP (service in charge
of the veterinary services of the Prefecture) of 2014, on which
relied the administrative court, claim that all is well for Samba and
her companions of misfortune. We appeal this decision. We will never
give up on Samba.
Our
criminal complaint – enriched with new elements on the appalling life
of the elephants from Africa – against the owner of the circus is
under investigation.
Please
sign our petition to establish Samba’s resettling far away from the
circus, the trucks and the chains !