The prefect of Lot-et-Garonne has until November 18th, 2017 to order the withdrawal of Maya from the circus that holds and a veterinary expertise, which she refuses to do. She also refused to receive representatives of the association who wanted to submit a new report on the elephant.
It is unacceptable that a State representative can treat an animal whose health is deteriorating in such a way and while it should be responsible for the animal’s well-being! Just take one look at her feet, her nails, her left paw is paralyzed, her thinness, her skin ... Should we really add any more?
The testimonials from veterinarians and expert Asian elephant ethologist consultants - Lucy Bates, John Knight, and Joyce Pool - say that this elephant is in a state of stress, pain and discomfort. They have even mentioned euthanasia if she is not treated urgently, to relieve her suffering, so much is so obvious: Maya is dying before our eyes.
The courts have criticized One Voice, saying that these reports are based on just a video: but the association has been asking for an independent veterinary expertise for months. Why is this simple and objective measure denied ? The veterinarians who have given certificates to the court at the request of the Prefecture are specialists only in cats, dogs, or reptiles! These professionals are quite respectable but what do they know about elephants? What are their qualifications for giving a review on Maya?
Maya has spent more than 40 years in circuses. She is isolated from other elephants, where an elephant needs social contact; she is forced to spend her days there in confinement, where as a free elephant walks up to several kilometres a day.
The National Association of Veterinarians and the Federation of Veterinary Syndicates of France (FSVF) confirmed that they are following the advice of the Federation of European Veterinarians (FVE) respectively to "promote the ban" and want a "strict and definitive ban" of "the use of wild mammals in itinerant circuses" and both confirm that the "conditions under which animals are held cannot meet their physiological and social needs". So, what is the state waiting for? What is the justice system waiting for?
The judge did not want to offend the services of the Prefecture, the Prefect does not want to go against the decision of the judge. We are going around in circles while Maya's health is in danger.
Circassians seek to portray us as extremists, those of us whose sole purpose is to save a very vulnerable animal from currently and which shows obvious signs of physical and mental decay. For their part, circuses deprive animals of their fundamental freedoms.
Civil society also wants Maya to end her days in a sanctuary and not in the trailer of a truck or chained up in a parking lot!
Muriel Arnal, president of One Voice, says:
"Maya needs urgent care. Winter is coming, we are terribly worried that she will die in the truck, out of sight. If no action is taken to help her, we will file a new appeal before the judge on Monday."
The history of the battle for Maya: Articles and press releases
- An historical announcement: In response to One Voice, the National Veterinary Order condemns wild animal shows in traveling circuses and legitimizes One Voice's fight for their release - October 11th, 2017
- One Voice at the Administrative Court of Bordeaux: Hearing on 17th October 2017 to rule on the release of the Mayan elephant from the circus holding it – 16th October 2017
