Did you know? TheUN, the United Nations, has decreed that 2024 is officially the " International Year of the Camelid ". To mark the occasion, a grand parade of these artiodactyl mammals was announced in the heart of Paris. This grand parade of camels, but also dromedaries, llamas and alpacas, was initially scheduled to take over the streets of the capital this Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Behind this major event are the F.F.D.C.F.E. (Fédération française pour le Développement des Camélidés en France et en Europe) and Christian Schoettl, Mayor of the small town of Janvry in Essonne. A great camel enthusiast, the mayor is already behind the Salon International des Dromadaires et des Camélidés to be held in Janvry in 2019 and again in 2022. This year, for the " International Year of the Camelid ", Christian Schoettl was thinking even bigger with this camel parade in Paris, during which the animals were not to be ridden. Contacted by telephone on February 21, the mayor confirmed that he had obtained authorization from the Préfecture de Police for the event, billed as a " festival of nomadic cultures " and supported by the FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization) and the ICO(International Camelids Organization).
The parade was initially scheduled to march to UNESCO headquarters, located on Place de Fontenoy in the 7th arrondissement, starting at the corner of Quai Jacques Chirac and Avenue de la Bourdonnais.
The event welcomed some thirty foreign delegations, including the USA, Canada, England, Pakistan, Egypt, India, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Qatar, Spain, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Morocco and Australia... During this unusual parade through Paris, each delegation was preceded by a dromedary, camel, llama or alpaca, while folk groups accompanied the delegations.
Since the announcement of this event in the capital, several animal protection associations have condemned the camel parade in Paris, including Paris Animaux Zoopolis (PAZ), which called for it to be banned.
On April 18, 2024, the Paris Prefecture of Police finally took the decision toban this camel parade from the streets of the capital, pointing out that"the animals that will be parading are not used to evolving in such a densely urban environment" and that"this environment is likely to undermine animal welfare". A decision welcomed by Paris Animaux Zoopolis. For his part, Christian Schoettl told Le Parisien that he had lodged an"appeal with the court".
"The parade declared on August 7, 2023 by Mr. Christian SCHOETTL for Saturday April 20 is forbidden from avenue de la Bourdonnais to Place Fontenoy via quai Jacques Chirac, avenue de Suffren, rue Barthélémy, avenue de Breteuil, Place Vauban, avenue de Tourville and avenue de Lowendal" announced the Préfecture de police in a decree published on April 18. However, the Prefect of Police had proposed an alternative route to the organizers in the Bois de Vincennes.
"Nevertheless, the parade may be held on April 20, 2024 in the Bois de Vincennes, with a gathering at 12pm on the esplanade of the Château de Vincennes, departure of the procession at 2pm from avenue des Minimes, strolling via avenue Daumesnil and avenue Saint-Maurice and dispersal at 6pm at the corner of avenue Saint-Maurice and route du Parc," the order stated.
Following the dismissal of the appeal by the courts on April 19, Christian Schoettl, the elected representative and organizer of the event, has announced on his blog that the parade of camels, dromedaries and llamas will indeed take place on Saturday April 20, and that the parade will follow the route imposed by the Préfecture de Police. "We invite you to join us at 2.30pm for a bucolic walk where the asphalt will not be the same as in the capital. Your presence will be a token of solidarity with the 34 countries that have made the trip", he added. The meeting is scheduled for early afternoon on theesplanade of the Château de Vincennes.
Dates and Opening Time
On April 20, 2024
Starts at 02:30 p.m.
Location
Vincennes Castle
Avenue de Paris
94300 Vincennes
