NOGENT-LA-PHAYE, France — Patrick Violas made his fortune in mobile phone stores before plowing 25 million euros of his own money into a sanctuary for lions, bears, and laboratory primates. Now he’s planning an extension before a ban on circus animals comes into effect.
Violas, whose sanctuary is located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of Paris, said he had taken numerous phone calls from circus owners. He also advises the government as legislation to phase out the use of wild animals in circuses passes through parliament.
“The circus owners ask us how much room we’ll have, if they can reserve space,” the Frenchman said at his sprawling refuge that counts Indian elep…
Keep on reading: Room at the refuge? French shelter braces for circus animal ban