CIRCUS RESCUE: Today, a team managed to take as many as 12 lions out of a French circus. The group of lions includes three adults and no fewer than nine cubs. Since December 2023, wild animals are no longer allowed to be born in French circuses. As a result, the authorities forced the circus to hand over the animals to AAP.
Urgent rescue
This rescue operation was carried out in total secrecy, in close cooperation with our partner Code Animal and the French authorities. It had to be done quickly as there was a high risk of the cubs being sold to an Italian circus park. A first attempt in October was called off on the spot because the circus refused to cooperate. When officials began to negotiate over the number of animals they could keep, we called off the attempt. We stick to our ‘all or nothing’ policy, we don’t leave animals behind. This time things were calmer and the animals were able to start their journey to our Spanish rescue centre without too much stress.
No more performances
This year the circus toured the west of France. Time and again, the animals were transported in transport trucks and displayed to the public. Week after week, without any exercise. The circus had already been banned from performing with the lions but said it could not find a suitable place for the animals.
Wild animal ban France
A new French animal welfare law has been phasing out the keeping of wild animals in circuses since the end of 2021. Two years after the law took effect, wild animals were no longer allowed to be born or bought. From 2028, circuses will not be allowed to keep and perform with wild animals at all. So with the birth of the cubs in the summer of 2024, the circus broke the law.
More on our work for animals in entertainment.
