The life of a "circus beast" is over for Elyo!
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.
His name the “circus beast” is Nal (or Nale). We had chosen to give him a free lion name, a solar name: Elyo. On this month of June, he has just been placed in a “zoo-refuge”: La Tanière. It’s still a great victory. The fact that the authorities pretend that nothing happened is not going to change anything: the darkness of the empty truck, for Elyo, is over!
The
eyes of Elyo prostrate, one of the few times the truck has been
opened.
No matter how well he came out of this, the trainers will
have to answer for their actions before the courts.
Outrageous living conditions and authorities turning a blind eye
For
Elyo, we had filed a complaint for acts of cruelty in April 2018. A
veterinarian was then mandated by the Public Prosecutor of Dunkirk.
His report left no doubt about Elyo’s ill-being and suffering.
Despite this irrefutable evidence, our complaint was dismissed! Faced
with this incomprehensible decision, we then proposed to the circus
to entrust the lion to us so that we would take him to live on the
African savanna in exchange for which we would have helped them to
set up a show without animals. The refusal was categorical.
In January 2019: new complaint
The
authorities knew, they were aware of the mistreatment of which Elyo
was the victim: they had in their hands the certificate from a
veterinary expert for justice, the numerous reports of our
investigators, the expertise of the world-renowned specialists whom
we had called. For months, we kept alerting them.
The circus was still announcing performances until May 26th
In
May 2019, Elyo was still plunged into the darkness of the truck, we
decided to summon his two trainers to appear before the Laval
Criminal Court (by paying, we made sure he had the hearing which he
should have had the right to). The “direct order” was given
by a bailiff to the trainers of the Buffalo Circus. It was at this
very moment that the authorities suddenly had a desire to deal with
Elyo. He had to be quickly re-homed, taken out of the circus. So, and
while the consignment hearing is taking place, hearing during which
we were asked to pay 3000
€ so that justice could do its job … Elyo arrived at this zoo.
The end of trailer life. But what of Africa?
As
for Maya, the authorities refused all our proposals, pretending not
to see the appalling living conditions in which Elyo found himself.
But, and as for Maya once again, a place has been found. Elyo will
not have the pleasure of setting foot on the African savannah, where
a park of more than one hectare in sanctuary awaited him. It is the
choice of the authorities, but let them be aware, we will watch over
Elyo!
The
authorities may try to act as if nothing had happened, as if our
fight had nothing to do with it, it will not stand up in court! What
would have happened to Elyo if at the dismissal of our first
complaint in 2018, we had given up? What would have happened if we
had not followed him tirelessly, alerting the State services, if you
had not mobilized, you, the militants, the sympathizers? Elyo would
probably have ended up dying from constantly banging his head against
the sides of the truck.
A great victory all the same
This
placement remains a great victory, let’s not sulk or ignore our
happiness of seeing him far from this miserable life: the incessant
homelessness, alone, locked in a truck, usually in total darkness.
At
the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition, where we asked
at meeting after meeting, for an immediate ministerial decree that
would put an end to the plight of animals in circuses, we were told:
“But what to do with captive animals? We have no solution. ”
The more the weeks passed, the more it looked like a false pretext.
If there was no solution, how to explain that in less than a year
Maya, Lechmee and Elyo – to name a few – had found a place outside
the circuses?
Should
we be filing a complaint and obtain direct orders for each detained
individual? And so that they all find themselves, secretly, placed
outside the marquees? If this is the solution, then we shall tackle
it!
Next
meeting at the Marseille administrative court on June 27th
for Samba!
Our
complaint for acts of cruelty on Maya is under investigation, and on
October 18th
we will be at the Laval court to obtain the conviction of Elyo’s
trainers for acts of cruelty. They will have to answer for their
actions! The time for impunity is over!
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