Target: Nicolas de Villiers, President, Puy du Fou, France
Goal: Commit to animal-free shows at a proposed British park and refer substantiated allegations of beaten horses and slaughtered ostriches for enforcement.
A spectacular performance should leave audiences moved by human creativity. Allegations cited in opposition to a proposed £600 million theme park instead describe horses being beaten and ostriches slaughtered after the season. Those disturbing claims concern the existing French attraction and remain disputed.
PETA has urged Cherwell District Council to prevent live-animal performances at the proposed development near Bicester. Campaigners cite documentary allegations of mistreatment, inadequate housing, and animal distress. Puy du Fou rejects the documentary’s portrayal, disputes its reliability, and says its own operations meet high welfare standards. Both positions warrant independent scrutiny.
The proposed park offers an opportunity to make a clear choice before performances begin. Human performers, stagecraft, and digital effects can carry ambitious historical storytelling. Ask the company to commit to animal-free shows, commission independent scrutiny of the allegations, and cooperate with lawful accountability for any substantiated cruelty.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President de Villiers,
Please make the proposed British theme park a showcase for entertainment without live-animal performances. The allegations involving beaten horses, season-end ostrich slaughter, poor housing, and distress deserve a serious response.
An independent review should examine original footage, handling procedures, housing conditions, veterinary records, and the circumstances of any animal deaths. Give reviewers meaningful access and publish their findings. If evidence establishes misconduct, take appropriate disciplinary action through fair procedures and provide the relevant material to enforcement authorities. A company review should assist any official inquiry and preserve evidence needed to determine individual responsibility.
For the new development, publish an unambiguous commitment to shows without live animals and reflect it in operational plans and contracts. Please address existing animals’ future care with qualified welfare professionals wherever changes affect them. Cooperate fully with investigations and support appropriate legal consequences for substantiated offenses. Use that opportunity to build compelling performances while placing animal welfare beyond the demands of the stage and making accountability a practical commitment.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
