In line with many other European cities, and reflecting increased public sentiment against the use of animals in circuses, Lucca has stopped hosting what, in Italian, are called ‘circhi equestri’ – which means not just the use of horses but also other animals in circus acts.
The edict from City Mayor Alessandro Tambellini came out in February last year after the Circo Orfei, made famous by Fellini, had finished their tournée at Lucca. Mayor Tambellini’s reasons are primarily of a hygienic nature “due to the unavoidable presence of organic material that remains on the street. The resolution follows the shifting of the twice-weekly market from Via dei Bacchettoni, (the old traditional site running from Porta Elisa to Porta San Jacopo), to Piazzale Don Baroni, an area that was, by current regulations, also intended for travelling circus shows. The location of the market, however, does not make it possible for hygienic and sanitary reasons to allow circuses with the presence of animals there.”
Furthermore, mayor Tambellini, states that the decision “also goes in the direction of underlining those principles of respect for co-existence between man and animal that we believe are important for a civilised sensibility. This will be followed by collaboration with animal lovers and aimed at revising municipal rules regulating the sector, inspiring all to common sense values “.
The hygienic reason given is surely a tactful way of getting out of the potential confrontation between those who condemn the use of animals in circuses and those who think the use of animals in circuses is fun. We remember walking around the area in Lucca previously occupied by circus elephants and being dangerously close to getting immersed in the largest shits we’ve ever seen in our lives.
The Circo Orfei used animals and we attended one of its at Lucca shows in 2016 which we describe in our post at https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/the-circus-comes-to-town/
Indeed, an animal circus last came to Bagni di Lucca in the same year, an experience we’ve described in the post at https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/the-circus-is-coming/
Interestingly, the UK government’s environment secretary Michael Gove is about to introduce legislation which will ban all animal circuses (of which there are eight still remaining) in that country. (In London they have not been allowed for many years). Apparently 94.5% of the public support such a ban. It’s a pity that the same person is not hearkening to other opinion polls that show that the British public is increasingly unsure about the national suicide note that is Brexit and which Gove is adamant about proceeding with.
In the meanwhile the following photographs taken by us of the Circo Orfei at Lucca in January ten years ago will become historical and increasingly odd mementoes:
Well the saddest part in all this is that man has a short term memory. At least most of us have and, indeed, animals such as these elegant elephants, kangaroos. camels. dromedaries and various other species could well become more than extinct in people’s minds meaning that we sometimes need to be reminded that they exist. So do we next ban zoos that do a sterling job in exactly the opposite direction such as supporting procreation of nearly extinct animals to then aid replacing these species in their wild habitat such as pandas as seen in the panda programmes of China. Animals adore the attention and fun and display antics to amuse. They are all indeed sentient beings and circuses are attentive to their needs. Not only but as at most circuses there is always a chance in the interval to view and meet these delightful creatures thus aiding in their upkeep and simultaneously reminding us of our duty towards animals. My lifetime motto is “Be Kind and Merciful to All Animals” and that naturally includes us too so why negate us of our few minutes moments of pleasure at the Circus.
Thanks for expressing your point of view.
Francis just a thought in retrospect since the demise of the vanishing animal circus the human circus in my view does not fulfill the gap not even humans in animal costumes that parade around in the circus arena. Nowadays we are bombarded with AI cats dancing again humans disguised as cats in cat costumes I can sometimes see humans hands or costume apertures hardly a substitute for the real deal. Strange though how FB is bombarded with people’s beloved pets and their quirky crazy antics. As sentient beings like humans animals crave and enjoy attention, often they are attention seeking loving creatures thus it seems to me anyway that we are denying these animals the learning of tricks and party pieces that we also as human beings engage in delighting audiences friends in such fascinating pursuits, be it magical tricks, illusionary visions, acrobatic acts, contortionists, dexterous balancing tight rope, cycles, stilts etc ,clown acts , petomanes, escapism, just to mention a few well rehearsed daring human driven performances to self please entertain amuse astound with bravado and great enthusiasm which creatures also enjoy. Seems now Dolphinariums are also under scrutiny and threatened closure, parrot shows maybe next but thankfully pet owners delight us with their own pet antics! Long live animal fun and quirkiness!