"These days, the circus animals sneak into town." -- The New York Times

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) organised a protest on Thursday to speak out publicly against Ringling Bros. Circus, who have already brought in the trained animals for the scheduled April 9th opening at the D.C. Armory. The protest remained local at the Dupont Circle Metro Station (Q St. N) in Washington, D.C., from noon until 1 p.m., to attract those on their lunch break.

Kristie Phelps, a Senior Campaign Co-ordinator for the Animals in Entertainment Campaign, along with others displayed a banner that read, "Wild Animals Do Not Belong Behind Bars." More notable was the list of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) violations against Ringling printed upon a big sign for passers-by to read.

"We often try to do these demonstrations before the circus gets to town and on opening night so that we can tell people about the awful truth before they purchase their tickets," Phelps explained. "We are often told that people had no idea that the elephants spend a majority of their lives in chains or behind hot wire fences where they cannot take a step forward or backward."

Phelbs went on to add, "It is important that people recognise that no government agency, no humane organisation, no independent authority monitors training. For this fact alone, abuses are more common."

Because the USDA uses terminology such as "non-compliance" to describe violations, Ringling is able to escape being charged and continue its practices.

In the wild, female elephants normally remain in their group until they pass away. The males are accepted until they are roughly 15 years old, where they then become independent. The circus had removed two baby elephants, Angela and Doc, from their mother when they were not even two years of age. Separating their family unit posed a problem emotionally and physically according to the USDA.

A USDA report from 1999 revealed open wounds on the ankles of baby elephants. The report stated, "[T]here were large visible lesions on the rear legs of both elephants."

When questioned concerning the cause of these lesions, it was stated by Mr. Jim Williams and Mr. Gary Jacobson of the USDA that, "These scars were caused by rope burns, resulting from the separation process from the mothers on January 6, 1999," going on to say, "Angelica's lesion appeared as a pink linear scar, approximately 6" long and 1" wide on the right rear leg. The left rear leg also had a scar directly below the cloth leg tie. Both lesions appeared to have been treated with an iodine-based ointment. Angelica also had two linear healing scars on the back of the right hind leg and Doc had a pink scar on the right rear mid-leg."

In another underexposed case dated January 24, 1998, a two and a half year elephant, Kenny, was forced to perform in two shows even while the baby was bleeding from his rectum and had stopped eating and drinking. According to the circus' Animal Care Log, Kenny passed away that evening at 11:30 pm.

Ringling paid $20,000 out of court on August 28 of that same year when the circus could not provide sufficient veterinary logs to prove the company had gone to any length to care for the animal.

Elephants are not the only species to endure suffering at the hands of their trainers and so-called caretakers. Another case of abuse on January 7, 1998 involved a Ringling trainer, Graham Chipperfield, who shot a Bengal tiger named Arnie five times while the tiger still was caged. This was said to be a retaliation for an attack against the trainer's brother, Richard, during an earlier photo op with the tiger.

"I think it is important for anyone thinking of going to the circus to know that Ringling's animal care record is riddled with tragic animal deaths, USDA violations, investigations, warnings," Phelps concluded.

Currently, the USDA has two open investigations against Ringling. One investigation may involve a complaint filed by PETA after two handlers were videotaped tormenting and harassing elephants with a bull-hook and a Swiss army knife.

According to PETA, attendance is declining at circuses that use abusive and demeaning animal acts, while animal-free circuses such as the Cirque du Soleil are growing rapidly in popularity. Parents are discovering that human-based circuses provide more quality entertainment at no harm to living beings.

Further Information:

Circuses.com

PETA's Action Alert MasterCard Sponsors Ringling's Circus.

Wildlife Advocacy Project

Coallette's Connection for Action

© Copyright 2003 Anai Rhoads.