“The tigers are leaving Fort Boyard.
This is the announcement of the day from Adventure Line Productions, which produces the adventure program for France 2. Farewell Kashmir and Tosca, aged 5 and 11 respectively.
"We are attentive to our viewers and we have seen a change in mentalities regarding the presence of tigers in Fort Boyard", explains the production company, which also specifies that it is "very concerned and attentive" to the well-being of the felines.
For these reasons, one of the three retired Tigers had not been replaced two years ago.
The priority of producer Alexia Laroche-Joubert for the last two furry extras, belonging to Thierry Leportier?
"We didn't want to leave our long-time partner and his tigers to a sad fate," says ALP.
The text of the Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili
(scheduling the end of the presentation of wild animals on variety shows, games and entertainment by 2024)
does not provide anything to meet their needs afterwards.
»
The production and France Télévisions have planned to devote "a sum" allowing the tigers of "Fort Boyard" to continue to "receive all the necessary care" in order "to have an end of life with respect for animal dignity".
“It had been running for some time”
Patrice Laffont, who presented the show from 1990 to 1999, is not surprised but regrets this choice.
“It had been running for some time.
Surely that's good for the tigers, even though their trainer told me they were happier on the fort than the rest of the year.
On the other hand, it is a very bad thing for the show, a big loss.
They were iconic.
It's even the logo.
And then, if we are really talking about animal welfare, we must also remove mice, snakes and spiders!
»
Several associations such as PETA or One Voice had campaigned for the end of animals in "Fort Boyard".
Last summer, Christophe Marie, deputy director of the Bardot foundation, called for an end to the "exploitation" of wild animals on the France 2 broadcast. "We are surprised, disappointed and even scandalized to learn that you have made the choice to maintain the presence of tigers in your game show, ”he wrote to Alexia Laroche Joubert.
Contacted again, he is delighted that “the production has anticipated the application of the law by two years”.
Read also“Fort Boyard”: audiences at their lowest, weariness, Covid … why the famous game is taking a hit
Last year, the subject caused as much talk as the arrival of Jean-Marc Généreux, in the role of a Canadian trapper.
“For us, it's the last time the tigers came here,” confided one of the program's historic participants.
On the spot, an amateur video had also circulated a lot.
“We saw the departure of Félindra
(the guardian of the tigers)
, as if it were her farewell to the fort, says a technician.
It was very moving.
»