Two circus camels, Simbas and Judas, disappeared in the middle of
the night in central France and are still missing two days later,
the director of the circus said Monday.
The two dromedaries -- five-year-old, 800-kilogramme (1,765-pound)
Simbas and three-year-old, one-tonne Judas -- were part of a
caravan of performers and animals that went to the French
countryside to wait for new gigs after the Paris circus abruptly
stopped touring following a road accident last summer.
Members of the circus troupe, who kept the camels along with
llamas, goats, donkeys, a pony and a member of a long-horned
species of African cattle called the Watusi, said they visited the
animals daily and that neighbours regularly brought hay, straw and
carrots for them.
"We realised yesterday and lodged a complaint with the police, who
are investigating," circus director Mickael Douchet told AFP from
the small commune of Estivareilles in central France.
Local broadcaster France 3 reported that the circus troupe believed
animal rights activists may have targeted the camels.