Ringling Bros. Circus Trial Begins; Elephant Cruelty Alleged
A Ringling Bros. elephant
Scott Wintrow / Getty Images.
After several postponements, the Ringling Brothers trial for elephant cruelty began yesterday. The plaintiffs, including a former Ringling Bros. employee and the Animal Welfare Institute, accuse Ringling Bros. of mistreating Asian elephants, in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Ringling Bros. claims that the elephants are not abused, and that the bullhook is merely a "guide" to cue the elephant. One of their attorneys stated, "the agenda of these animal special rights groups are that they want elephants out of captivity but they are starting here with the circus." As if there's something wrong with that? As if that excuses the mistreatment of these elephants?
February 6, 2009 Update: You can read some of the court documents, and follow along with online trial updates.
Links:
- PETA Offers Animatronic Elephant to Ringling Bros.
- The Saddest Show on Earth: Elephant (Ab)use in Touring Circuses
- Study Shows Elephants in Zoos Live Shorter Lives
- Press Release from AWI: Ringling Brothers Stands Trial in Federal Court for Elephant Mistreatment
Comments
It’s time to end all circus performances which involve animals. There are plenty of alternatives. Time to evolve and not consider animals performing “tricks” (as a result of abuse) as entertainment.
When I keep hearing the ex-employees of Ringling warning us not to go to the circus, that pretty much tells me everything I need to know.
There is just no way that a 6 ton elephant stands on it’s head without a lot of pain and suffering to train her.
tourment of animals needs to be stopped! They are living, breathing species on God’s green earth and shouldn’t be treated any different!
I’m gutted to learn about this having just bought tickets to take my 4 year old, who is dying to go. I almost feel like cancelling my order, but don’t know if that’s possible. Having been to the circus in Bali at age 5 and left midway through the performance because they were swinging bears around on nooses, it took a lot for me to actually buy these tickets just because my daughter would love it. now i’m feeling guilty…
Im sorry to say this but what if your all wrong ? and there they dont hurt the animals its not fair to judge if youve never actually seen how it works or if you dont know how they train them its not like youve ever lived in that circus so how could you know if there treating the animals badly?
Alicia, people don’t just make wild assumptions about cruelty without hard evidence. If you can stomach it, watch this video. It’s the circus section from the documentary Earthlings. You’ll see how the animals are treated behind the scenes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiDV6ZmeM5A
Alicia,
“when you get the hook into her and hear her scream then you know you got her attention.”
“I’ll kick her (*$& ass, I’m the boss.”
“I’ll beat the *#( out of her and she’s gonna do what I say.”
It’s on tape. I dare you to watch it and say, “Well, that’s how they want to do it, that’s just the way it is. You people are so mean and judgemental” boo-hooing for the people who brag about beating up on some innocent creatures.
Good thing they don’t train their human performers they way they do their animals – you would probably be too catatonic and damaged to type your tripe on this site.