Yes, camels, dromedaries and llamas indeed wandered this Saturday, April 20, in the Bois de Vincennes, east of Paris. Before the start of the event, the fifty camelids were unloaded from the equine transport trucks to be installed on the sand of the esplanade, in front of the castle, and under the amazed eyes of passers-by.
“We found it improbable, atypical, so we came out of curiosity
,” enthuse Clara and Maxence, accompanied by their three and a half year old daughter, behind the ribbon that separates them from the animals, due to safety requirements.
Otherwise, we see them in zoos or in circuses. And for our daughter it’s good to see them in real life. Not everyone can afford a safari to observe them!”
This (a little crazy) project, entitled “The incredible parade”, matured for two years in the mind of Christian Schoettl, the mayor (without label) of Janvry (Essonne) and president of the French Federation for the development of camelids in France and Europe.
“Why this demonstration? It's just for fun
, he jokes to Le
Figaro
.
I am called a sweet dreamer or a nice madman? Fortunately we dream, we are creative. I have nothing against pétanque competitions, but anyone can organize them.”
Gotha of the camelid world
In a slight smell of manure, the last mammals are each adorned with the flag of one of the thirty countries represented. The United States, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Oman, Spain, Senegal and even India were present.
“Camels are incredibly intelligent animals. We are here to celebrate them as part of the International Year of Camels proclaimed by the UN
,” declares proudly Valery Crinshaw, a 49-year-old American camel owner in Kansas and general secretary of the Camel Owners Association. camel ranches of North America (Nacroa). This is all very serious.
Like her, the elite of the small world of camelids made the trip.
“I have children...and camels. These animals are essential for our food but also for what their skin and hair provide us
,” declares Abdulla Al-Kuwari, president of the Arab Union for Camel Racing, while strolling. The Qatari came to Paris only for this event. Not far from him, Rita, arriving from Fuerteventura, the second largest island in the Canary Islands, in Spain, is in traditional gala dress. She is none other than the dietician and controller of the milk produced by the largest herd in Spain.
"I am touched"
“The animals do not seem stressed, they ruminate peacefully
,” observes Jordan Feraud, in charge of the animal park at the Marina Plage campsite, in Vitrolles (Bouches-du-Rhône). With three other breeders, the southerner arrived in the capital on Thursday accompanied by twelve camels, including two of his own.
“From fall to spring, they're in their enclosure, strutting around. In the summer, they do walks and baptisms for tourists. Since the dawn of time, man has been riding these animals
,” explains the thirty-year-old. And added: “
People are happy to see them.”
“We’ve been waiting for this event for a month
,” intone Julia, 31, and her younger sister.
“We love animals, and we like seeing them up close. It’s interesting, fun and unusual to see desert animals in the city
,” says the thirty-year-old, cell phone in hand to immortalize the moment.
“I’m moved
,” says Nadine, 79, at the head of the procession.
“Why do we love camels and dromedaries? It’s unspeakable
,” replies Christian Schoettl. The procession enters the Bois de Vincennes. Marching bands and dancers in traditional outfits escort the camelids.
Arm wrestling
However, this demonstration could never have taken place. Originally, the mammals were supposed to wander 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. To the great dismay of the Paris town hall, with which a real standoff began, and of certain animal rights associations. At the head of the queue, Paris Animaux Zoopolis had notably denounced the use of camelids as
“objects of entertainment”
and
“vulgar food resources”
. In a decree, published this Saturday, the Paris police headquarters cited security reasons for banning the original route.
“There are very few camels that break bus shelters, or the windows of Lacoste stores to steal a t-shirt
,” jokes Christian Schoettl; who sees this as a
“political decision”. “Obviously the mayor of this district, Rachida Data, said that she did not want it. It's complicated to say no to a minister
, grumbled the mayor of Janvry.
And then, there are also all these speeches that I hear, including from animalists and which have slightly racist overtones... This argument consisting of saying that these animals are not from us is strange.