Maya the elephant is at her end!
Will it be that Maya collapses one day so that the public finally grasps the horror of her situation? A recent veterinary report tells us that this old elephant is now exhausted. One Voice files a complaint for acts of cruelty.
Will it be that Maya collapses one day so that the public finally grasps the horror of her situation? A recent veterinary report tells us that this old elephant is now exhausted. One Voice files a complaint for acts of cruelty.
Born in freedom 54 years ago, Maya has gone from circus to circus and from trailer to marquee throughout her life. But it is likely to end soon, according to the report of a Veterinarian consultant for One Voice, who considers her condition extremely alarming. This weekend, our investigators were on site. Despite our cry of warning, nothing has changed, except two jailers who now monitor her…
Her thinness is scary to see. Her limbs have become so thin that they hardly seem to be able to support her. Her limbs supporting her weight are in terrible pain, by adopting these aberrant postures to make children laugh. Many wounds cover her head and shoulders. Blows from billhooks during training? Finally, while elephants love to be in a group, in large families, Maya is isolated in a tiny pen. The circus claims she is in heat, but that seems unlikely at her age. On the other hand, her mental distress has clearly worsened. More than ever, Maya suffers from violent stereotypical disorders. She “senses” the air and surroundings without end the emptiness with her trunk. How could it be otherwise? Nothing distracts her from her abysmal boredom, except for a bundle of straw and tarmac floor soaking in urine under her chained legs.
The Veterinarian concludes: The conditions of Maya’s detention are animal cruelty. This elephant must be placed urgently in a sanctuary adapted to her needs, as the law and ethics require. If not, she will die.
From this alarming observation will soon come the previous reports of the Veterinary Inspection relating to Maya. The Administrative Documents Access Commission will allow us to access them soon, following our request dated May 15th, 2017.
Together with a complaint of cruelty, One Voice also filed an application to the Administrative Court concerned, to request that the Prefect be summoned, under penalty of 1000 euros per day, to withdraw Maya from the circus and hand over to the association the last three reports concerning the elephant’s state of health.
Maya is exhausted; One Voice will do everything to save her! Already, we have reserved her place in the Elephant Haven sanctuary that is ready to receive her in any emergency.