Wild animals in circuses: the State pays to bury the problem, not solve it
While the ban on keeping wild animals in traveling circuses will finally come into force in 2028, on May 2 the French Ministry of Ecological Transition unveiled an “support plan” that could have marked a historic step forward. In reality, it looks more like a patch-up budget made to look like a transition policy. For years, One Voice has been offering its help to this very ministry to support the retraining of circus performers… Pretending to be concerned about this in 2025 when the law was passed in 2021, and all this while reminding local authorities of their obligation to welcome them, seems like a joke in bad taste. How careless… And it’s the animals who pay the highest price again.
Five measures have been announced in decree no. 2025-396 of April 30, 2025, concerning financial support for itinerant establishments presenting non-domestic animals to the public, with several million euros at stake… not for the animals. Not for sanctuaries. Not for building facilities. No. To subsidize waiting. To subsidize failure. To subsidize the total lack of anticipation.
To pay circuses that continue to keep animals
The icing on the circus tent: measure 4 provides for a monthly subsidy to be paid to establishments… that can’t find a place for their animals. The State will therefore pay circuses 600 euros per month for each wolf, bear, sea lion, tiger, panther, lion, lynx, cheetah, puma, jaguar, hyena, elephant and hippopotamus. In other words, our leaders are admitting that they have no concrete solution for rehousing, three years before the legal deadline. Worse still, they plan to pay circuses to continue holding these animals while waiting for who knows what – a miracle placement, a discreet death, or media oblivion.
Meanwhile, One Voice finances the construction of parks, transfers and care for wild felines seized from circuses. The more animals they lock up in their trucks, the more money they will make…
Silence’s money, a legacy of suffering
Rather than investing in sanctuaries, international partnerships or even a major plan to create suitable facilities, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition prefers to write checks to the very people who have profited from animal captivity for decades. Up to 100,000 euros per facility, 150,000 euros per captive holder, and even 50,000 euros per elephant. And now that there’s only one left, Samba, there’s no need to hurry. Hippos like Jumbo and Boulie are worth 30,000 euros. A brutal logic for animals, reduced to administrative commodities to be sold off at the end of the stock.
It’s not a question of supporting a transition, but of selling off some hypocrisy. The government prefers to pay for inaction rather than finance the future. Animals are waiting for dignified places. Sanctuaries expect resources. But the checks will go to the trainers who continue their dirty business, financed from now on by taxpayers.
2028 is approaching. The countdown is on. At this rate, it’s not the end of animals in circuses that the State is preparing. It’s their abandonment.