The Camelid parade planned for Saturday in the heart of Paris is suspended. Organizer Christian Schoettl says he fell "in love at first sight" with camels.
Event is part of the International Year of Camels, proclaimed by the UN. Animal rights groups are stepping up to the plate to protest against the event, which is to take place in front of the Eiffel Tower and the Unesco headquarters in the 7th arrondissement of the capital. The event has been suspended for confirmation from the police headquarters after being denounced by an animal rights group. The organizer says 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. The 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.