Students around the world joined PETA in urging Prince Rainier
to end the use of animals in the Monte Carlo International Circus
Festival.
Playing on Monaco’s reputation as a casino resort, the students
took handmade postcards, pasted playing cards to the front and
wrote to the prince, “Please don’t gamble with elephants’ lives—allow
only human performers in your circus.”
For years, animals have been trucked hundreds of miles over mountain
passes to take part in the festival. They are forced to balance
on balls, leap through burning hoops, twirl on their back legs,
skate and ride bicycles.
A PETA videotape shot secretly at the 1995 festival shows a trainer
jabbing and hitting an elephant with a bullhook to make her sit
upright on a stool; a frightened, whimpering muzzled bear being
forced to perform a complicated gymnastics routine; and a trainer
pulling a panther by the tail and hitting the animal with a stick.
Our investigator saw elephants swaying neurotically in the small,
dirty truck used to transport them and depressed bears biting
bars and rocking in their small cages. At least one of the circuses
has been charged with smuggling endangered species, including
chimpanzees, gorillas, tigers and Asian elephants.
“Circuses are no fun for the animals forced to perform,” says
PETA educator Danielle Moore. “We applaud the students speaking
out against cruelty in the Monte Carlo circus.”
Kim Basinger, Alec Baldwin, Juliette Binoche, Gérard Depardieu
and Brigitte Bardot, have signed a letter to Prince Rainier asking
him to “end the unwilling participation of animals.” “I have made
it my number-one priority to shed light on these atrocities,”
says Ms. Basinger.
•Politely ask Prince Rainier to make the Monte Carlo International
Circus Festival animal-friendly by inviting circuses with only
human performers. Write to: His Royal Highness, Prince Rainier,
The Palace of Monaco, B.P. 518, Monaco-Ville, Monaco, 98015
•Let Monaco's tourism board know you won't spend your vacation
dollars in Monaco until the festival drops its animal acts.
