Freedom for Jumbo, a hippo prisoner of the circus!

Freedom for Jumbo, a hippo prisoner of the circus!
14.08.2017
France
Freedom for Jumbo, a hippo prisoner of the circus!
Exploitation for shows

At the last minute: the hearing is postponed until August 28 at 11:00am, the circus will present its arguments.

On August 17, seized by the association of One Voice, the judge of the summary of the Administrative Court of Grenoble will examine the case of the hippopotamus Jumbo.

For 30 years, this amphibious hippopotamus, which was made for a semi-aquatic life, is confined to a truck, deprived of any social contact with its fellow hippo’s and its natural environment, including bathing to relieve its body and joints from its own weight. It is only half an hour a day free from its trailer to be sprayed with water from a hose, malnourished and exposed to onlookers. Jumbo is being held in unacceptable and illegal conditions, especially since he does not take part in the shows.

A legal battle

Earlier in the year, One Voice’s request to cancel the opening proceedings which were rejected by the Valencia prefecture, which considered that the circus offered conditions of captivity in accordance with the regulations in force (the decree of March 18, 2011 sets conditions for the detention and use of animals in itinerant establishments). This assessment is erroneous according to One Voice, because the decree provides that animals can meet their biological and behavioural needs, and that they participate in the show. None of these criteria are met for Jumbo.

International experts mobilized

In a report issued in 1997 at the request of the Vienna Environmental Commissioner, three leading Austrian experts – Dr. Gsandter, Pechlaner and Schwammer – noted that the hippopotamus is « particularly suited for life in and around the water, to which he must have continuous access. The water point that hippopotamuses have must be deep enough for them to fully immerse themselves. Keeping them captive in pools that are too small or too shallow for too long causes joint damage. Only permanent pens can satisfy the conditions mentioned above. In addition, hippopotamuses are gregarious animals that live in groups […]. That’s why keeping hippos in captivity in circuses is totally unacceptable! ».

In March 2017, Dr. Pierre Gallego, specialist veterinarian and consultant of One Voice, made several observations of Jumbo in situ, noting that he is « fed after the show during the 30 minutes of his release. It is an extremely short time to exercise outside the trailer and to feed yourself. He is fed with hay and horse pellets, and therefore does not have access to fresh grass which is his staple food in the wild. There is no more enrichment that allows Jumbo to have a natural behaviour, even to take care of himself or to move about […] sufficiently, neither to take baths as is necessary for his species. […] In addition, the frequent transportation in trailers between the various show sites represents significant stress for this animal, which is added to the stress of being exposed to the circus visitors during the only time during which he has access to the outside of the trailer. »

For Muriel Arnal, president of One Voice, there is urgency: « We must save Jumbo! We have timed the exits to which he is entitled, he remains locked in a dark trailer 23.5 hours out of 24 without permanent access to water or participation in any performance. For an
amphibian and gregarious animal, it’s not a life! We demand respect for the physiological needs of Jumbo, as provided by law, and his release. We will ensure his transfer and his welcome into a partner sanctuary which will finally offer him dignified living conditions. »

One Voice also denounces the illegality of the 2011 decree, which allows to keep captive wild animals in circuses when precisely they cannot express their natural behaviour.

According to the association, perpetuating such exploitation also jeopardizes the work of raising awareness about the respect and protection of endangered species.

The circus of yesteryear, which heavily exploits animals for unnatural shows, is in decline. Many mayors of France refuse that such companies deploy their marquee in the communal territory, unlike modern troops, offering attractions without cruelty. In large countries (United States, India, Australia, Brazil …), total or partial bans (depending on the species) have been enacted. In the European Union, 20 member countries have already taken similar measures. One Voice is fighting for France to be 21st.

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Dolphinariums: the industry attacks protective measures, One Voice fights back!

Dolphinariums: the industry attacks protective measures, One Voice fights back!
27.07.2017
France
Dolphinariums: the industry attacks protective measures, One Voice fights back!
Exploitation for shows

The decree taken on May 7^th by the Ministry of the Environment, under the authority of Ségolène Royal, is today attacked before the State Council by the dolphinariums, represented by Marineland Antibes (06), Parc Astérix of Plailly (60) and Planète Sauvage of Port-Saint-Père (44). This action for annulment is doubled by a request for the suspension of the decree, to be judged by the State Council this Monday, July 31^st at 10:30 am. In summary, this is to obtain a stay on the implementation of measures to improve the conditions of detention of captive cetaceans ..

False arguments

Remember that the decree in question prohibits the possession of any new cetacean from November 7^th and requires changes in the operating conditions for the animals currently held. The owners will argue that these developments (especially the work to enlarge the pools, to be carried out in under 3 years) are too expensive, and if they can be written off just for the life of the few individuals that are already captive. A curious argument from those who claim to have the welfare of cetaceans at the heart of their concerns: the average life expectancy of 20 years lent to the cetaceans concerned is fully compatible with the depreciation value of the work prescribed, particularly in relation to the profit generated by this activity each year.

For One Voice and all the scientific experts working with them, the arguments put forward today by dolphinariums in their actions for an appeal are misleading. To argue that the prohibition of reproductions planned in the context of trade is detrimental to the welfare of dolphins is debatable, even more so by establishments where commercial logic dominates all.

Numerous scientific reports, notably those provided by One Voice to the Ministry, attest that captivity is inherently harmful to the welfare of cetaceans. Cetaceans are made for the open sea and not for concrete ponds. For the association, to see today the marine parks setting themselves up as defenders of the happy sexuality of these captives (if they produce new prisoners, these subjects of attraction), really leaves one wondering.

Voices of the many begin to rise

A world-renowned marine biologist and expert, Dr. Naomi Rose said: “Contrary to industry’s claims, this reproductive ban will not have a significant impact on dolphin welfare – which could even improve. Many centres are already regulating conceptions by separating male and female individuals during their favourable hormonal cycles, checking the levels of hormones in the urine of
female dolphins every morning. Without having to physically bear a pregnancy and birth, and without the psychological threat of seeing her new-born die early in an unsuitable concrete pool. These dolphins might even be less stressed than they are now. Is it necessary to
recall that captivity already deprives cetaceans of many natural behaviours, in particular their ability to swim in a straight line
over long distances, much greater than just a few strokes of the tail. To be able to dive deep, beyond just a few meters, to hunt and
to feed oneself. It is no coincidence that the industry talks about dolphin abuse only and not about their ability to produce more exploitable captive dolphins.  »

A lawyer for the rights of animals, legal consultant for One Voice, Arielle Moreau adds: « The dolphinariums want to continue to enjoy an absolute property right on these beings and be able to make them work as they please, to exchange them, to control their sexuality and their motherhood, to dispose of their babies and their children at will, without any regard for their desires and needs. They are in denial of their needs and their nature because for them, orcas and dolphins belong to them they are deprived of their own existence and exist only to serve the interests of these commercial companies. Dolphins and orcas are autonomous individuals, highly intelligent and sensitive, they have the right to be protected and recognized as a person.  »

Other voices are added to the concert of oppositions to the recourse of the captive industry: John Hargrove, 14 years as a specialized healer, former head of the Orques Marineland Antibes, brings all his support and experience, the suffering experienced by cetaceans in captivity.
The testimony given to One Voice by this American specialist, reminds all those interested of the current regulatory framework: « There is no ecological or conservation reason to breed dolphins in captivity and none of those that have been bred in Marineland have been released to repopulate the oceans. This clearly underlines the commercial motivations of the Marineland operation, at a time when the park is trying to evade by all means of the new regulations, which ultimately means the end of the cruel suffering endured by these captive animals. Thank you to everyone in France who fought for such legislation. You are now spearheading the fight that has resumed in other countries, including the United States.  »

Finally, Dr. Pierre Gallego, veterinarian-consultant, brings his medical point of view to the record: « Dolphins are extremely intelligent animals that have a very complex social life and hunting techniques that are extremely elaborate. All of these behaviours cannot be accomplished in captivity. In addition, the pools are totally bare, there is no sand, no rocks, no algae, no fish, and the water is chlorinated. Not to mention the depth of the pools which is at the maximum of 5-7 meters, which gives them no opportunity to behave naturally. In addition, captive groups are formed by park managers, which creates synthetic groups, whereas in nature groups are made and disbanded according to the social structure of Tursiops described as fusion / fission. These synthetic groups are frozen and individuals have no opportunity to avoid each other in cases of aggression, which is quite common among dolphins. The result from this is tremendous stress that can lead to gastric ulcers and other health problems, not to mention the wounds dolphins can inflict on themselves and each other, while in nature this could be avoided.  »

For all these reasons, One Voice, the French representative of the Dolphinaria-Free Europe coalition, calls on the political and judicial authorities not to question the latest texts regulating this commercial activity. Recalling that controlled reproduction in the pools, by contraceptive means or the management of groups, should only serve the expression of a natural sexuality among the prisoners, not to perpetuate the exploitation of generations of captives in a totally dehumanized logic of financial accounting.

The ministerial decree of May 7^th, 2017 gave the dolphins and orcas currently captive real hopes: that of seeing their living conditions substantially improved and especially that of being the last of their species to live in France in this unbearable detention. Ethics, common sense and humanity must continue to prevail over commercial logic.

President of One Voice, Muriel Arnal says: « We are surprised at the sudden urgency invoked by the industry and the timing of these recourses … in the middle of summer. The ministerial decree of May 7^th gives priority to the dignity of sentient beings endowed with cultures and languages, over the economic interests. It must be above all maintained. By putting an end to family rifts and mourning the
deaths related to breeding programs, this text will improve the living conditions of dolphins and orcas. And these will be the last detainees in France, so badly deprived of freedom and their fundamental rights. Ethics, common sense and humanity must continue to prevail over commercial logic.  »

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Dolphins in Captivity: One Voice meets Marineland

Dolphins in Captivity: One Voice meets Marineland
11.07.2017
Antibes
Dolphins in Captivity: One Voice meets Marineland
Exploitation for shows

Following the procedure initiated by Marineland before the State Council against the dolphinarium decree, One Voice wishes to speak out. The fate of dolphins in captivity should not be put into question!

Last May, after several years of fighting and working with the Environment Ministry, One Voice obtainedthe ban on the reproduction of dolphins and their transfer between dolphinariums. But on July 6^th, the Marineland Park filed an appeal against this order to request a review.

France does not have an independent administrative authority to protect the rights and freedoms of animals. One Voice intends to defend their rights to freedom and lead a life worthy of that name, according to their needs and desires.

Marineland’s arguments will not deceive anyone. Who benefits from the reproduction of dolphins in captivity, if not specifically the private companies motivated by profit, such as dolphinariums and their shareholders, because this helps to sustain their trade?

Dolphins suffer precisely from captivity, which flouts their family and social ties, and denies their biological and psychological needs. The authorisation of the reproduction and exchange of dolphins between dolphinariums amounts to inducing a chronic suffering on these gregarious and intelligent animals.

It is indeed curious that Marineland did not worry about the well-being of the orcas when it announced it was stopping the reproduction of the latter. How would that be different for dolphins?

According to the dolphinarium, the minister would not be competent to make this decree that she did not validate, however her competence was not put into question when the matter of taking an order deciding the end of the detention of orcas arose!

It is still the same park that holds polar bears in sunny enclosures and claims to anyone who wants to hear it that they live there like fish in water…

One Voice will do its utmost to ensure that the order is maintained without concessions. Too many dolphins have already suffered.

The torture of Maya

The torture of Maya
10.07.2017
France
The torture of Maya
Exploitation for shows

A new investigation by One Voice into the world of circuses! It reveals the suffering of Maya, an Asian elephant held in appalling conditions. The association is fighting for her release.

A day will come when the spectacle of the elephants being exploited in the circuses will be a thing of the past. A period when pachyderms were torn from their native lands to be seen writhing on stools under the cheers of the crowd. Unfortunately, this period is not yet over. In France, the law still allows these practices from another age.

This is the proof from the latest investigation by One Voice alerted to the plight of Maya, a 54-year-old Asian elephant held by a provincial circus. The report is terrifying, as evidenced by the full report (in french – read here and spread this news as widely as possible).

From her place of detention to the circus ring, the animal endures a real ordeal of a multitude of violations regardless of the enforced regulations (1). In her pen, no comfort just a tarred floor dripping in urine and a thin layer of straw litter, the bare minimum. No place either to hide from prying eyes or from noise when she seeks peace and quiet. Only a resemblance of an awning protects her from bad weather. To occupy her long and laborious days, no source of distraction or stimulation. She only has fodder which she feeds on excessively.

When it’s her time, Maya appears exhausted under the tent, slow and tired. Like a sleepwalker, she executes the orders of the trainer like a robot, sometimes with half-closed eyes, and the depth of her distress can be measured.

When will her agony end? When will the cause of elephant-slavery be taken into account? When will we finally break the chains of these great sages whose intelligence and extreme sensitivity should rather serve as an example? Animal persons have fundamental rights that we must respect, to begin with, their dignity.

Besides that, beyond the suffering they endure, the pachyderms are wild animals, so also dangerous. In the case of Maya, as in many others, security measures to protect the audience are insufficient or even non-existent! Unusual stresses? The elephant may very well involuntarily move over to the side of the audience, and could possibly fall on them crushing them under her weight. In addition, close contact with the crowd also entails the risk of Zoonosis for both her and humans present.

More than ever, One Voice is committed to changing attitudes and working with the public authorities. Already, our association has undertaken on May 12th a judicial procedure to obtain the release of the elephant and its transfer to a sanctuary. We have also made a complaint to the Head Inspector of Freedom Deprivation Centres. This approach, usually reserved for humans, is also fully justified by the conditions of detention of this animal person Maya. In the long run, it is all captive wild animals that we intend to save from these deadly exhibitions. To support our request, sign and share our petition online!

(1) Order of 18th March 2011 laying down conditions for the keeping and use of live animals of non-domestic species in traveling theatres.

Jumbo, a hippopotamus at the bottom of the abyss

Jumbo, a hippopotamus at the bottom of the abyss
06.07.2017
Jumbo, a hippopotamus at the bottom of the abyss
Exploitation for shows

He bears the name of an illustrious predecessor. What a bad omen. The famous pachyderm might have been a star, but his life at the circus was an ordeal. This contemporary hippopotamus’ is too. One Voice is fighting to save him.

Jumbo would only have wings at Walt Disney. In reality, captive animals experience suffering and despair, without any escape. Jumbo the hippopotamus is one of them. He has been languishing for years in the menagerie of a French circus.

Alerted about his deplorable living conditions, One Voice mandated an investigator and a veterinarian last March to witness the situation. Their conclusions are overwhelming. It appears that the physiological and biological needs of this animal are absolutely not respected.

Locked up 23:30 hours out of 24 in the trailer of a 15m long and 3m wide truck, Jumbo is sorely lacking space to move. In addition, he has no bathing opportunity. In the wild, as his species requires, this imposing male would spend most of his time weightless in a river or lake. Here, nothing helps him to support his body mass or relieve his limbs. His only contact with the water is during his half-hour daily « walk ». He is then sprinkled with a hose under the intriguing gaze from the onlookers. What a sad irony, that a forced shower is given to an amphibious animal! And that sudden movement and noise around him is so stressful after having spent a day completely cut off from the world. For food, the old hippo receives horses hay and pellets … What a ridiculous diet for an herbivore capable of grazing 68 kilos in 4-5 hours in the wild! Then, he is returned to his confinement devoid of any distraction. And to add to his mistreatment, he frequently endures transport in a trailer between the different performance sites.

Faced with such a total disregard for the fundamental rights of this animal person and the regulations in force (1), One Voice calls for the immediate release of Jumbo and his transfer to a sanctuary. Especially as the hippo is not participating in the show, his detention is completely illegal. At the same time, our association has initiated a procedure with the General Controller of places of deprivation of liberties so that she takes over the case. This approach usually kept to human prisoners, and also engaged for 5 female elephants, also finds its full meaning against the hell endured by Jumbo.

Beyond this case, One Voice goes further and continues its fight for the conclusive abolition of the exploitation of wild animals in circuses. None of them has its place there! To support our action, sign and share our petition!

(1) Order from the 18th March 2011 laying down the conditions for keeping and using live animals of non-domestic species in itinerant shows.