French Zoo enraged as wicked visitors scratch their names onto a rhino

• A photograph of a 35-year-old female rhino surfaced on the internet on August 22 with ‘Camille’ and ‘Julien’ inscribed on her back.
  
• The incident happened at La Palmyre zoo in Royan in southwestern France
  
• The rhino wasn't harmed by the incident and the zoo authorities said that they quickly brushed the writing away.
  
  

A photograph of a 35-year-old female rhino surfaced on the Internet on August 22 with "Camille" and "Julien" inscribed on her back. This act of animal cruelty raised an outcry across the world.

The incident took place at La Palmyre zoo in Royan in southwestern France with rhinoceros called reportedly known as Noëlle. The visitors had reportedly scratched the animal using their nails.

The rhino wasn't harmed by the incident and the zoo authorities said "they quickly brushed the writing away".

The zoo was "outraged by the stupidity and disrespect". However, they said they wouldn't be taking the matter to court.

Another reason to close zoos?

There are two sides to the blame game. Several animal rights activists have been pressing on closing zoos because as containing them itself accounts to animal cruelty.

Another example why zoos and circuses with animals should go, said a user reacting to the news on twitter.


The population of rhinos has been shrinking at an alarming rate. Every three in five species of rhinos are critically endangered, reported AFP.

For years, zoos have been involved in cruel and demeaning activities that cause mental, physical distress in the animal. For instance, elephants are forced to take part in circus and dolphins are made to dance, pointed out a research based on world's top 10 zoos and aquariums.

However, the French zoo said that they would be installing cameras to ensure such incidents would be taken care of.

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