Next summer, France 2 will broadcast the 33rd season of Fort Boyard. As usual, Father Fouras will return to service, as will the Passe-Partout characters, the Masters of Time or, more recently, Blanche, Chef Willy and Lady Boo. The new edition, on the other hand, will be without some of the stars of the program, namely the Tigers. These wild animals have been appearing since the very first episode of Fort Boyard launched in 1990 and were intended to guard the treasure, under the supervision of their mistress Felindra. Like other members of the game, they had become emblematic for the past 32 years.
It was producer Alexia Laroche-Joubert and her teams who made the decision to no longer stage them. “I feel that there is a fundamental societal movement that we must hear about the protection of large animals and especially felines“, she explained to 20 minutes. Recently, Parliament has just adopted a bill aimed at combating animal abuse. The presence of animals on film sets was particularly at the heart of the debates. But Alexia Laroche-Joubert assures her, she received no pressure. “I didn’t have to retire the tigers until 2024 so we could have shot two more seasons. I’m only doing this because I consider it an important move for our viewers to make.“, she wanted to clarify, explaining that this was a “difficult decision carefully considered for three years“.
What future for tigers?
So what about the future of the tigers? Because as the ALP producer points out, “it’s very nice to remove them from certain spaces but still it is necessary to know what they will become.“Fortunately, on good terms with their owner, Thierry Le Portier, she has come to an agreement.”We are going to pay him a very large sum who assures him the food and care of the tigers until we have planned to be their natural death“, she announced.
The breeder confirmed this information through an official press release relayed by the production. “The withdrawal of the tigers from Fort Boyard is the result of discussions with ALP. Our long collaboration has always been made up of constructive exchanges. Thanks to their involvement and concern for the future of my animals, I am a little more serene about the continuity of the well-being of my tigers“, did he declare.
ALP held to conclude that “reassure loyal viewers” than “the spirit of the tigers will always be present as they are an integral part of the magic of the program.“