Question 12679 — animals

Summary

Mr. Sylvain Carrière draws the attention of the Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature to the exploitation of non-domestic carnivorous animals in the context of commercial and entertainment activities. If the ruling of March 25, 2004 regulates zoological establishments on this issue, many private establishments are not subject to it and continue to operate wild carnivores. This was revealed by the investigation published on September 25, 2025 by the Quatre Pattes association on the organization of photographic sessions with an American black bear, in an establishment located in France. During these sessions, the animal was asked to pose with visitors from outside the establishment, allow itself to be caressed, fed and kissed. These practices involve contact between a wild animal and public, without separation or security device. These activities are likely to pose serious problems in terms of animal welfare and public safety, with a risk of accidents and the transmission of zoonotic diseases. The scientific community as well as animal protection associations have been warning for several years about the risks inherent in close interactions with wild animals, in particular problematic selfies with these animals, which normalize their exploitation and weaken awareness efforts for the protection of wildlife. If the decree of October 8, 2018 sets the general rules for keeping animals of non-domestic species, it does not specifically regulate commercial activities bringing the public into contact with wild animals. This regulatory void raises all the more questions since the decree of 25 March 2004, applicable to zoological establishments, strictly regulates physical contact between the public and animals, as well as the distribution of food, in order to prevent any risk. He therefore wishes to know what measures it intends to take to put an end to these practices which compromise both the safety of citizens and the well-being of captive wild animals. He also asks her if she plans to ban in all non-zoological establishments activities involving direct contact or physical proximity between wild carnivores and third parties at the establishment.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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