A lion cub on the dancefloor
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.
Getting close to a lion cub in a disco … For those who dreamed of it, the Deauville “Le Chic” nightclub has done it. We are filing a complaint against the Prefecture of Calvados who has overlooked this scandalous act when it is up to them to enforce the law!
Having
fun with a wild baby lion in a nightclub is so chic, isn’t it? For
those who lack original ideas, the disco “Le Chic” in Deauville
turns a corner (Since November 2018, the management of the disco has
thankfully changed. The new owners have contacted us: their work and
investment does not involve animals). On March 24th 2018, the
previous owners proposed to their nightclubbers to come dance and sip
cocktails with a lion cub. Named as the star of the evening against
its will, the little feline was “fittingly” welcomed: delirious
fans crowd around it, multi-coloured spot lights full of plums, loud
music in its ears… There is no doubt that a small lion sets the
atmosphere for sure!
Obvious abuse
The
problem is that a baby lion has nothing to do with a night club
whatsoever… Is it necessary to remember that its place is near its mother and that being exposed to unknown hands, deafening din and
blinding neon lights represent so many extremely traumatic sources of
stress? Well yes. Once again, we had to mobilize to remind them that
to exhibit a lion in such a place constituted an act of mistreatment
affecting, moreover, the conservation of its endangered species.
Furthermore, the “Le Chic*” nightclub did not hold any
authorization for the presentation of wild animals to the public. It
was a circus that was in the region, they were the holders for the
lion cub and who had “illegally” obtained it for club.
Who is incriminating ?
But
filing a complaint against the circus is not easy. In this case, as
in so many others, formally identifying the person in charge involves
painstaking investigations in the heart of the jungle of itinerant
establishments and numerous approaches to the authorities supposed to
supervise them. On March 28th
2018, we sent a letter to the Calvados prefecture to ask them to take
up the file and obtain the withdrawal of the certificate of
competence from the “owner” of the lion cub and his mother.
It was a wasted effort.
While
it was their duty and, in their power to intervene, the institution
did not feel it was necessary and did not care to answer us… It is
therefore against them that we are launching a legal proceeding
today. Decidedly unconcerned by the animal cause, they have already
declined their presence at the hearing that will be held at the
administrative court of Caen on October 3rd
at 9:30 am. But of course, we will be there to defend the rights of
this little cub!