Come in, walk in – come and marvel!

On the stage of the Circus Roncalli elephants with long tusks rise again on a pedestal and bow.
But after the show, the animals do not have to be in a tight cage and across the highway to the next town. Because: they are not real, but created holographically. For its new, animal-free concept, the circus of animal welfare organizations such as Peta is classified as “exemplary”.

Roncalli has banished wildlife from his program since 1991, and last year circus director Bernhard Paul said goodbye to the last animal actors – the horses. At least from the real ones: instead, horses made of stardust run through the ring as holograms; more than a million gold particles are animated according to Roncalli press spokesman Markus Strobl.

In 2018, the first holograms were shown at Roncalli. This makes the circus the first to work with holographic animals. But not the first animal-free: Even circuses like Cirque du Soleil or Flic Flac rely on acrobatics and Co. instead of animals.

The times have changed. Many of these circuses have long since canceled their sails, and the whole “circus” concept has also seemed a little out of time. Those who still travel the country with their programs face a sharp headwind. This often has to do exactly with the circus animals, because PETA and other organizations, but also more and more individuals refuse the conditions under which the animals have to live.

Bernhard Paul-director of the Roncalli Circus

The animal welfare organization PETA calls Roncalli the “most animal-friendly circus” in Germany. She not only praised Roncalli’s avoidance of animal suffering, but also that the circus has recently offered only vegetarian and vegan food before and during the show.
Meanwhile, the company also waives plastic in its food and beverage offer. “We want a circus that thinks with us,” says Bernhard Paul.

The circus director is aware that this innovation has also “hit the nerve of the times”. But that was not the reason for it: “That was a lonely decision of mine, in which many have said: ‘But this will be difficult without animals`. It was not. It was right. We notice what’s going on in other circuses that work with animals. ”

For example, animal rights activists have repeatedly protested against animal shows in circuses, and Circus “Belly” has caused a stir in recent years with court cases involving its chimpanzee Robby.

Robby-in the enclosure of the circus “Belly”

People have become more sensitive to animals in their awareness, says Paul. “It is clear that in a circus you have to transport the animals from city to city and that the places are not necessarily suitable for animal husbandry.” He also got a “guilty conscience”.
“It is not necessary to have animals in the circus, nothing is missing”, he is sure. When he announced in shows that they are now free of animals, applause followed. And the circus also receives prominent letters, as press spokesman Strobl reports: “Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin wrote us a fan mail and invited us to America. ”
Bernhard Paul has also been invited to Silicon Valley.

https://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Panorama/Uebersicht/Circus-Roncalli-verzichtet-auf-echte-Tiere-die-Alternative-begeistert-sogar-Hollywood

My comment: The attempt to introduce a wildlife ban for circuses, there was already several times and has failed to corrupt German politicians.

And so far nothing has come of it: Three attempts in the Federal Council, 2003, 2011 and 2016, failed because of the blockade of the Union parties and because of the veto of the competent Federal Ministry.

The argument: The introduction of a ban would be equivalent to a professional ban, animal traders would thereby become unemployed!!!. Other European countries are more stringent: For example, in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Ireland and other countries there is a ban on wild animals in the circus. In a few countries, such as Greece and Cyprus, animals in circuses are generally banned.

Thank you, Roncalli!
Now I can go to the circus again.
No animals are abused and “broken” for the amusement of stupid circus visitors.
I hope that other circuses will take Roncalli as a role model and make the same decision.

My best regards, Venus