The filming carried out on May 29th in Orthez, France, brought back into the spotlight the story of Jumbo, a hippopotamus who, according to the One Voice association, has been living in conditions of itinerant captivity for decades within the Muller circus. In the video released online, the animal appears repeatedly hitting its head against the metal structure that contains it, a clear sign of suffering and psychological distress.
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A life in confined spaces and contested conditions
According to the association’s reconstructions, Jumbo has lived for around forty years in a mobile structure similar to a metal bucket, used during the circus’s travels. A condition incompatible with the nature of a semi-aquatic animal that requires water, space and social interaction.
The hippopotamus, a species which in nature alternates long dives and large movements, would instead find itself confined to small environments and deprived of fundamental elements for its behavioral balance. For One Voice, the repetitive movements observed in the video would be a symptom of chronic stress and profound environmental deprivation.
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The accusations and the judicial past of the circus
The story is intertwined with the controversies that have been involving the Muller circus for years. Animal rights organizations recall previous judicial episodes and disputes related to the management of animals and the staging of traveling shows. The accusations also include the use of installations considered irregular during some tours and critical issues related to safety conditions for the public, with barriers sometimes considered insufficient to guarantee adequate distance from the animals.
The request: transfer to a sanctuary
Faced with the case, activists have relaunched the request to transfer Jumbo to a sanctuary, where he can live in conditions closer to the needs of the species. A petition (which can be subscribed to at this link) has already been activated to urge rapid intervention. Jumbo’s story represents a symbol of a system now under pressure and which must be stopped: let’s say enough to circuses with animals and their exploitation.
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