Are we going to see around fifty dromedaries, camels, llamas and alpacas in front of the Eiffel Tower? A camelid parade planned for Saturday in the heart of Paris is suspended for confirmation from the police headquarters, after being denounced by an animal rights association.
“The incredible parade”
, organized by the French federation for the development of camelids in France and Europe, is to be held on Saturday afternoon between the Quai de Seine in front of the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides and the Unesco headquarters, all located in the 7th arrondissement of the capital.
A way, explains organizer Christian Schoettl, of supporting
“the cause of the dromedary in the French capital of human rights”
.
The International Year of the Camelid
This event is part of the International Year of Camels, proclaimed by the UN in order to promote
"the essential contribution"
of these
"heroes of the
deserts
and highlands"
who provide for
"millions of households living in hostile environments in more than 90 countries
.
Mayor of Janvry (Essonne), he had already made himself known by parading with camelids in Paris in 2014 during a demonstration against the reform of school schedules.
Since 2019, Janvry has hosted two international camelid shows in France. Mr. Schoettl explains that he fell
“in love at first sight”
with these animals and owns four camels that he takes on vacation.
For this Parisian parade, he said he mobilized 70,000 euros of funds, 34 national delegations, 80 people to protect the event including three veterinarians, a civil security ambulance, two vans to rescue animals if necessary and poop scoopers.
“These animals have no place in Paris”
Not enough to convince the animal rights association Paris Animaux Zoopolis, which denounced in a press release the use of these animals as
“objects of entertainment”
and
“vulgar food resources”
.
“These animals are adapted to the desert, high temperatures and drought. They have no place in Paris
,” argued Amandine Sanvisens, co-founder of the association.
The Paris town hall, too,
“is not in favor of this parade”
, she indicated, but it has no decision-making power,
“the demonstration being itinerant”
.
Whether or not the demonstration is authorized is up to the police headquarters, which had not yet responded to AFP's request on Tuesday afternoon.