Lyon Zoo: Animal Rights Defenders Go on the Offensive

In June, activists from the animal rights association Paz challenged Grégory Doucet at a public meeting in Lyon's 9th arrondissement to demand the zoo's closure. / PAZ

Animal rights activists from the Paz association, who were once sympathetic to Grégory Doucet's candidacy, accuse him of treason on the issue of animals in the zoo.

“Even if there are ideological bridges, environmentalists advocate biodiversity, or a plurality of species. Whereas we animal rights activists don't distinguish between species. We start with individuals and defend their interests, even when it doesn't go in the direction of preserving the species ,” explains Audrey Dubois, Paz's campaign manager. In fact, for animal rights activists, advocating the end of zoos and breeding programs, there remains the impression of a downward repositioning, far from the breakaway discourse of candidate Grégory Doucet, whom they had previously supported. “ During the 2020 municipal campaign, Grégory Doucet stated that 'wild animals had no place in enclosures'. However, the results of his mandate do not at all support this statement. On the contrary, the current mayor of Lyon is defending this outdated place tooth and nail ,” denounces Amandine Sanvisens, co-founder of Projet Animaux Zoopolis (Paz), accusing the environmentalist majority of being more motivated by electoral reasons – keeping the site open – than by animal welfare in its management of the site. On the other side, they minimize: “ There was never any question of closing the zoo. ”