Outrageous: a circus exhibits a baby tiger at the end of the school day
In October 2017, a circus uses a baby tiger at the end of the school day to promote the circus show. One Voice challenges the Prefect!
In Sète, at the beginning of last October, a circus exhibits at the end of a school day a baby tiger; a way to promote their circus show. It is very difficult for young children to resist a cute animal that is like a stuffed toy animal and it seems as harmless as a kitten … Should we really be outraged at this kind of practice? One Voice answers Yes and challenges the prefect of Herault! Explanations are needed.
The weaning period of a tiger, do you know?
In its natural habitat, a tigress hides her cubs for the first fifteen days until they are able to see and hear. It takes the newcomers a hundred days to reach the end of the weaning period. In no case should they be separated from their mothers. Unfortunately, in view of the photos circulating on social networks, the baby presented to the public at the end of school classes, was far from having reached this period of development. And even so, a young tiger is not an object of curiosity and has no place in a street!
Torn from his mother, the health of the baby is in fact questioned. Our concern is great, knowing that many births have been recorded without knowing the fate of new-born’s … We demand transparency from the circuses via a right of access to the register of entries and exits of these lions and tigers.
The Prefect of Herault challenged by One Voice
In addition to a copy of the register, we call on the Prefect of Herault to suspend the certificate of competency for this circus. This document is especially given to circus owners for “the breeding of animals of non-domestic species other than game”. It can be removed when the welfare of the animal in question is not assured. Impossible to affirm, knowing the needs of a baby tiger, and that the circuses must guarantee the good health of the animal.
Baby tigers: a marketing tool for circuses
Enticing children so that they push their parents to go to a show is a renowned marketing technique that the Circus owners master rather well!
After such an exhibition, how can you refuse your child an outing where they will be sure to see an animal as cute as a baby tiger? We will try to help you. Even if the comparison between a kitten and a baby tiger can be easily made, remember first that the latter does not purr but roars. Furthermore, a tiger born in captivity or not, remains and will remain a wild animal. From the first months of existence, the latter shows predatory behaviour.
A study was conducted on 12 tigers more than two years old born in captivity, then released into their natural habitat, most of them were able to hunt antelope. Their hunting instinct is intact even though all they had known was the captive life … Is it really necessary to maintain children’s perception of wild animals the same as soft toys or as their companions in everyday dogs or cats? We do not think so, especially when we know the living conditions of these poor animals … And this is certainly not the way children ought to be taught respect for wildlife.
One Voice’s fight: circuses without animals
Young tigers are unfortunately not the only victim of this circus: Jumbo, the hippo lives in an appalling condition. Its biological and physiological needs are not respected.
Let us refuse together to participate in animal abuse, exploited for the entertainment of humans. Continue to sign the petition so that there are no more animals exploited in circuses!