The judge of the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Strasbourg has ruled, One Voice’s freedom of expression is safe, for the protection of animals.
We file a complaint against the family that owns this circus, against the living conditions unworthy of Nelly and Brigit, the other two elephants that they continue to hold.
On February 13th, One Voice was summarily summoned to the TGI of Strasbourg by the circus, which owns and operates Maya, a 50-year-old Asian elephant. For Arielle Moreau, lawyer for One Voice,
"The intension here is to harm by muzzling the association One Voice."
Indeed, the circus demanded the withdrawal of any representation of the elephant on the website of the association, its social networks, leaflets and signs during events. In other words, they demanded that publicly defending Maya becomes illegal. They also demanded an apology published in the regional daily newspaper appearing where the circus headquarters is registered.
For several weeks, the circus let rumours circulate that Maya was dead, by hiding her, refusing to answer the letters of the association, telling them of their legitimate rights, whereas they alone had the opportunity to dispel the doubt. Using bad faith and false pretences, the lawyer tried to turn the situation around for the benefit of his clients, insinuating that One Voice spread the rumour, while she did everything to stop it.
At the hearing, the association learned that Maya was alive, that the veterinary inspection requested by the prefect of Lot-et-Garonne had taken place the day before, and that the circus had had an abscess treated on the back of the elephant before this inspection. Nothing has been done for her feet, however, as her posture blatantly shows that it is from here that she physically suffers the most. She picks up her feet from under her, to make up for her weight from the back to the front. We will know soon if the veterinarian mandated by the authorities has taken the measure of the distress of Maya in addition to her pain.
The appeal lodged for Maya by One Voice at the Administrative Court of Bordeaux is still ongoing and the complaint for acts of cruelty allowed the opening of an investigation. To this will be added the complaint of the association for two other elephants of the same circus, Nelly and Brigit, detained like her for many years, also stored in truck trailers as working tools, and also presenting disturbing signs of stereotypy. One Voice reminds that the place for Maya at the sanctuary Elephant Haven (in Limousin) has been reserved by the association since October 2017 and to which the association made a significant donation in 2016 for the purchase of the land.
