25,000 call for Paris rat ‘genocide’ to be halted

THOUSANDS of Parisians have signed a petition denouncing efforts to control a rat infestation as a rodent “genocide”.

The French capital is facing its worst rat crisis in decades. Rapid proliferation of the animals has forced several parks to close temporarily amid fears that children could be bitten or infected by disease.

Paris authorities are spending £14 million this year on “deratisation”. But some residents have spoken out in defence of the creatures. Influenced perhaps by the lovable rat Remy in Disney’s 2007 film Ratatouille, 25,000 people have signed a petition to stop the “genocide” of the rodents.

Josette Benchetrit, a clinical psychologist who set up the petition last year, said: “Rat phobia is an unwarranted social phobia, like spider phobia. Give a rat a beautiful bushy tail and you’ve got a squirrel – an animal we love.

“These poor unfortunates are being mercilessly killed because they’ve been designated by society as scapegoats to be eradicated.”

The Green mayor of the capital’s 2nd arrondissement, Jacques Boutault, has joined the pro-rat lobby. “The law stipulates that all animals are living, sentient beings,” he said.

However, many Parisians are fed up with seeing rats on the streets and say the “deratisation” campaign has had little impact.