Ringling Brothers Will Stand Trial for Elephant Abuse

[CarolsCritterCare]

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/wildlif...ers_trial.html

Ringling Brothers Will Stand Trial for Elephant Abuse

August 23, 2007

In the wild, Asian elephants travel many miles a day.

Today, Judge Emmet Sullivan of the federal district court in Washington D.C. issued a major ruling rejecting the last-ditch attempt of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to avoid trial over charges that the circus abuses its Asian elephants in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.

[pk]

In a January 2005 email, Ringling's own "Animal Behaviorist" recounted to Ringling's General Manager that she saw an elephant named Lutzi "dripping blood all over the arena floor during the show from being hooked," after a handler "hook[ed] Lutzi under the trunk three times and behind the leg once in an attempt to line her up for the T-mount." A "T-mount" is a stunt where two elephants and at least one person stand on the back of a kneeling elephant

Makes me not want to go to the circus.

[pk]

elephants are kept tightly chained by one front and hind leg and unable to move freely.

...elephants being confined this way up to 20 hours or more each day. Research shows that this leads to psychological and physical problems such as arthritis, crippling foot problems, and behavior that is indicative of high levels of stress.

Every child remembers the first time they visit the circus. It was a huge deal in my life since we didn't get to go and do things like this very often when I was young. I even remember the dress I wore (little 60's style with the peddicoats underneath) lol We walked in the wet dirt trying to stay out of the mud since it had just rained and I had little white shiney shoes on! lol lol

Anyways, it was great. All the noise, the colors, the animals! The tricks, the shows! Something every child would take memories home with them forever.

A few years ago we went to a curcus that came here and again had a very great time. Can't think of anything better to do than watch the giant animals perform tricks right before you eyes!!

So it is sad to see that the same animals suffer every day of their lives just so they can perform their acts for all the children. I hate to think of them being tied up for long hours, and beat to learn their tricks.

My thought would be that one of these large animals will 'snap' and turn aggressive. I know I have read this in articles before..

Anyways, good article Carol. Hopefully it will make people think about this when they are at the circus next time.

pk