A council has scrapped a children's snail race after animal rights activists claimed it was cruel, leaving locals in shock and one concluding that the 'world's gone mad.'
The Electronic Snail Racing Board demonstrations, where members of the public were to find a snail and transport it to Nottingham Central Library, were scheduled for Wednesday, June 10. However, the event was canceled after the Nottingham Animal Coalition and other campaign groups called it 'unnecessary.'
The event, known as 'The Slowest Show on Earth,' was part of a 'green week' celebrating action against climate change. Officials canceled it over complaints that even picking up a snail could harm them.
Locals reacted online with shock. One said: 'World's gone mad.' A second added: 'Getting children to engage with nature is a positive.' A third on X wrote: 'Probably the most harmless activity a council has ever devised. Cancelled. The council didn't push back. Didn't explain the safeguards. Didn't suggest the complaining party go and browse a book instead. Just apologised and scrapped it.'
Alex Patterson, leader of the Nottingham Animal Coalition, said the event had not considered snail welfare. He said an injury can be caused by picking them up: 'It ultimately treats them as objects for human fascination and entertainment and not as what they are, which is individuals with their own wants and interests. If you pick them up, at best you're stressing them out, at worst you're causing them physical injury.'
Nottingham City Council apologized to those impacted by the decision. A spokesperson said: 'While the demonstrations were intended as a light-hearted and educational activity, we recognise some members of the community have expressed genuine concerns about the snails involved.'
