Near Toulouse, a circus which had undertaken not to show wild animals “hides” its lionesses, according to an association
A circus installed in Cugnaux, near Toulouse, is accused of “hiding” its lionesses in unsuitable cages, while it had agreed to the town hall, not to show wild animals in its shows.
The city of Cugnaux, near Toulouse, decided in April 2021 to no longer host circuses presenting wild animals on its territory. However, the Rico Zavatta circus, which has been performing since November 19 in the town, “hides” lionesses in a truck trailer, according to a video and photos from Zoopolis (PAZ).
? ️PAZ alerted the DDPP on the 31st, @Ecologie_Gouv and the @CityCugnaux.#Circus WITHOUTanimals https://t.co/9VJGWv74na
– PAZ (@ParisZoopolis) 22 November 2021
“While the bill against animal abuse has finally been adopted in the National Assembly, the Rico Zavatta circus, installed in Cugnaux, hides its lionesses. The animals are locked up, and declare behavioral disorders. They make movements. repeated, without apparent goal. These are signs observed only on animals in captivity, symptomatic of a deep boredom, “protested the co-founder of the PAZ association, Amandine Sanvisens.
The mayor of Cugnaux will put the circus on notice to leave the territory of the city
The association accuses the circus of not respecting the regulations, which since 2011 have provided for the presence of outdoor cages of 60 m2 in which the animals must move at least 4 hours per day. “Lionesses are hidden in a truck 3/4 closed, and there are no outdoor cages,” denounces PAZ. The association explains that it alerted the town hall, the state veterinary services and the Ministry of Ecology.
Contacted by “La Dépêche”, the mayor of Cugnaux explained that he had found by the municipal police, the presence of these lionesses, “hidden” from outside view. “We are going to put the circus on notice to leave the territory of the municipality. We had accepted its presence on land belonging to the municipality, on the condition that it comes without wild animals, explains Albert Sanchez. The circus has not kept his commitment. He deceived us, he must now leave the town “.
“More and more municipalities are committing to no longer host circuses with wild animals”
“More and more municipalities are committing to no longer host circuses with wild animals. This is very positive, reacts the co-founder of the PAZ association. But we realize that circuses are trying to circumvent their commitment, and hide their wild animals Animals are neither toys nor attractions, adds Amandine Sanvisens.
