One Voice organizes a rally to demand animal-free circuses on Saturday 2nd December 2017 at 3pm near the Bormann Moreno Circus
Following
the death of Mevy the tigress on Friday November 24th,
the association One Voice organizes a public gathering around the
circus Bormann Moreno, in the Place Balard, Paris on Saturday
December 2nd
at 15h.
The
public must be aware of all the inherent dangers in the presence of
wild animals in circuses. They must also know what it means for a
wild animal or even one born in a circus, a life of captivity and
homelessness, without ever having a place to take refuge. Because
once informed about these wild animals who are transformed into mere
objects, people suddenly no longer support shows using animals.
Muriel
Arnal, president of One Voice elaborates:
“For
a tiger, a natural being, it needs open spaces and to be able to flee
from the threat of something. This simple fear and this legitimate
need for freedom do not disappear with a life of detention, even
after generations. In fleeing, Mevy certainly expressed for the only
time in her life, a natural behaviour for a tiger. Animals have
nothing to do with caged circus trucks, literally or figuratively. We
will not rest as long as this exploitation is allowed to continue.”
The
question is unanimous among the experts: the European association for
Zoos (EAZA), the national order for veterinarians agree that these
circus shows and the travelling cannot fulfil the conditions
necessary for the well-being of wild animals. However, the
authorities persist in ignoring the repeated and substantiated
requests from the association.
The
circuses with animals are private companies that thrive on the
permanent stress they put on the animals, all of this with makeup,
glitter and fanfare. Mevy escaped while under the responsibility of
the circus. This event put the public in double danger: by the
presence of the tigress on the public road and that of a man, who was
armed with a shotgun, in the streets of Paris and at the same time as
the rush hour. Also, in this area there is a hospital, a tram and an
RER station.
At
a time when 22 countries in the world prohibit circuses with animals,
including 10 in Europe, and 68 municipalities in France; where the
population is largely in the majority to no longer endorse this type
of leisure activity, the French public authorities cannot remain
blind and deaf any longer.
One
Voice asks the Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech not to allow
circuses with animals into the capital and to Nicolas Hulot, Minister
of Ecological Transition and Solidarity, to ban the exploitation of
animals in circuses.
All
the documents mentioned in this press release are available on
request.
Press
contacts: For further information and interview requests:
presse@one-voice.fr or 06 43 26 78 80.