The debate is not new but the Normandy region decided to settle it by voting unanimously during a permanent commission at the beginning of March to stop subsidies for festive events which use shows featuring animals wild.
In the viewfinder of the community in particular, medieval festivals and their presentations of birds of prey.
This position was applauded by animal rights defenders who consider that the training and captivity of these animals is a form of mistreatment.
In particular the PAZ association (Paris Animaux Zoopolis) which is at the forefront of this fight.
On social networks, its officials describe this first on a national scale as “historic” and encourage other French regions to follow this example.
“I find it unfortunate that communities are taking sides”
In fact, its scope remains limited.
In Normandy, only six large-scale events used raptor demonstrations in 2023 (in Falaise, Pontorson, Cerisy-la-Forêt, Thiétreville, Harcourt and Rouen).
And if some organizers have received subsidies from the region (Falaise, for example, benefited from an envelope of 20,000 euros), not all receive them or request them.
However, for falconers such as Breton Nicolas Ferrari, founder of the Passion du Roy and involved in three of these six Normandy meetings last year, there is concern.
“I find it a shame that communities take sides by giving credit to associations who talk a lot of nonsense about our activity.
But it is obvious that their pressure is starting to pay off.
We are already seeing this with certain festivals which have already given up on calling on us.”
He rejects any mistreatment towards his eight birds of prey and above all points to a lack of understanding on the issue on the part of elected officials who have for the occasion anticipated the effects of the text voted in 2021 banning from 2028 itinerant shows featuring non-animals. domestics.