The fight for Samba goes on, new complaint for the last French circus elephant
Thanks to a report, we found Samba. In mid-June, the Cirque d’Europe had taken up residence in Illiers-Combray, Eure-et-Loir, for a few days. For the first time, Samba was shown from the sky, and the smallness of her enclosure as well. We are filing a new complaint on the basis of these images, and are calling for her to be placed in a sanctuary.
Soon, the exploitation of wild animals will be banned in traveling circuses. But our leaders, instead of automatically ordering their placement in sanctuaries, are offering circus owners the chance to settle down while continuing to exploit these animals.
Solitude and confinement
For the first time, we reveal images of Samba taken from the sky. A makeshift enclosure, tiny, empty of occupation and solitude. Total boredom for this intelligent, sociable animal, who in the wild travels several dozen kilometers a day with their family. A sedentary lifestyle is the leading cause of arthritic disorders and pain in captive elephants, as confirmed by the many scientists who have examined our images of Samba. There’s no doubt about it, her left hind leg is in pain. On several occasions, she lifts it to relieve the pressure caused by lack of activity and being overweight.
Postures that hurt
During performances, guided by a stick and threatened by a hook, Samba is forced to perform ridiculous “acts”. Unlike usual, she now wears bands around her ankles. Could this be to hide injuries from public view?
The expert we contacted confirms this: “In addition, Samba is forced to adopt extremely abnormal positions and behaviors, such as climbing onto a tiny platform and spinning around repeatedly. She is also forced to carry her full weight on just two legs, and sometimes the left hind leg carries excessive and abnormal weight. The exercises performed during the show can also be a contributing factor to lameness.”
Yet everything is ready for her. A place awaits her in a sanctuary, the transporters are operational. We have the capacity to organize her transfer and are committed to taking care of everything. All we need is the agreement of the authorities.
We are filing another complaint. We continue to fight for Samba, so that she is not sent to a hospice-like zoo like Baby, nor ends her life as a prisoner of a circus. Sign our petition calling for her to be placed in a sanctuary.
