The venerable Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris announced on Thursday that it would no longer submerge non-aquatic snakes in water, following a furor from animal rights activists over the questionable stage show.
In a scene from the institution’s daily performance, a dancer interacts with pythons in a transparent pool.
The 1889-founded cabaret has now given in to pressure from Paris authorities and activists who claimed that submerging terrestrial snakes was cruel.
Animal rights activists claimed that they had observed the snakes in the troublesome segment attempting to keep their heads above water.
The two species used in the performance—the Indian and Southeast Asian reticulated pythons—are protected and have a land-based habitat, according to a letter from representatives of the mayor’s office of the French city to the venue.
Although they may be good swimmers, the staging, according to the notification, does not account for the species’ natural behaviour.
The Moulin Rouge stated that it had to give performers “reasonable notice” but did not provide a specific finish date for the performance.
The Moulin Rouge announced that it would end this practises because it was “aware of societal developments on animal welfare” and that treating animals with respect had “always been essential” to how it operated.
The action comes after a contentious effort that included petitions and protests.
The co-founder of the PAZ animal rights organization, Amandine Sanvisens, earlier said, “The snakes have no business being there. Reptiles shouldn’t live here, according to the climate.
The cabaret previously stated to the publication Le Parisien, “We have never mistreated animals and will never mistreat animals.”
In the show, it was stated, “a species of aquatic python, equally at home in the water as on land” was used.
Hailed by President Emmanuel Macron’s camp at the time as an animal rights coup, the law has both sparked a backlash from circus owners and been criticized by animal rights groups for not going far enough on issues like hunting, industrial farming, or bullfighting.
