The Cruelest Show on Earth -- Coming Soon, but for a Very Limited Stay

I began attending circus protests more than 25 years ago.  One circus after another rolled into D.C. and stayed, for what seemed like, forever.  Each  exploited wild animals all in the name of "entertainment."  In 1995 Newt Gingrich,  then speaker of the House, and other members of Congress celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Ringling Brothers Circus on the lawn of the Capitol.   I was there nearby along with a bus load of DCPS students.  We peacefully protested the mistreatment of circus animals.  Students wore shirts with SAVE -- Students Against Violent Entertainment -- emblazoned across their chests, waved posters depicting chained elephants and bears in tutus, and chanted "Ho Ho, Stop the Abuse, Ringling Brothers has got to GO". 

They went, but  after their run.  And, they came back.     Ringling Brothers comes to the area at the same time year after year.  They know, however, that they are definitely wearing out their welcome.  Ringling Brothers, with their Greatest Show On Earth signed traveling trailers filled with chained elephants and caged lions, tigers, and bears, and an assortment of  exotic animals pulls into town.  But, I know that their business has dropped off.  It used to be that that circus took up residence at  the D.C. Armory for two or more weeks.  This year they are advertising just nine performances over four days at the Verizon Center.  AND sales of those show tickets are heavily discounted through ticket brokers.  

People are getting it.  Young people especially.  The Birney Elementary School students who, in 1997, helped the Humane Society of the United States create the video, Behind the Big Top, The Real Life of Circus Animals, are now adults.  Those students who took their campaign against cruelty it to the streets for lawmakers, passersby and news crews to see are now adults.  Kids who have grown up watching Discovery and Nature videos are now adults, too.  And, these young adults know the truth,  and will NOT pay to watch animal abuse.  They are going to end it.   And, they may even be the ones passing  out leaflets depicting the truth about circus animals in front of the Verizon Center March 24 27.

The Circus is Here -- Do Something!

Ringling Brothers paraded elephants down the streets of the Nation's capital yesterday with moms, dads, and kids lining up to get a good look at these enormous herbivores . In celebration of St. Patrick's Day the elephants were dressed in green hats and beads -- does that make sense? I've yet to see an elephant donning a hat or wearing beads or feathers when I'm marveling at the elephants on the elephant cam at http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/index.php or watching a documentary highlighting elephants in their natural habitat.

Even people at the parade seemed confused by what they were watching. One parent was quoted in the Washington Post saying, "I've never been a big circus person. I'm not big on captivity. Me as a parent, I want my son to be able to enjoy the experience, but as a human being, it's not something I like. I'm sure the treatment the elephants receive from [Ringling Bros.] isn't as good as they would receive in a zoo, since they have to be trained to perform." But there he was with his two-year-old son. I suggest that they pop some popcorn and watch Planet Earth or Animal Planet together.

Since Ringling and other circuses refuse to change their ways, some communities are taking legislative action to end the abuse. Recently, the Joint Environment Committee of Connecticut's General Assembly passed HB 6555, a bill to protect elephants from abusive use of cruel and inhumane devices such as bullhooks and chains. This comes at a time when the trial against Ringling for violations of the Endangered Species Act is wrapping up in Washington, D.C.

Evidence from the trial has revealed that elephants are chained for an average of more than 26 hours at a time, and sometimes for as much as 60 to 100 hours, as the circus moves across the country, said Nicole Paquette, Senior Vice President of Born Free USA. Internal documents obtained by Born Free USA also reveal:

• Ringling's animal behaviorist reported "an elephant dripping blood all over the arena floor during the show from being hooked."


• In internal emails, a Ringling veterinary assistant reported that "[a]fter this morning's baths, at least 4 of the elephants came in with multiple abrasions and lacerations from the hooks." "The lacerations were very visible ... (a handler) applied wonder dust just before the show." Wonder dust is used to stop the bleeding of a wound and it is charcoal in color which covers up the spot from public view.


• Another report saw Troy Metzler, one of Ringling's elephant trainers, "hitting Angelica (an elephant) 3 to five times in the stocks before unloading her and then using an electric prod ..."


• Even circus CEO Kenneth Feld admitted in court that "he's seen handlers hit elephants under the chin, behind the ears or on the legs with a bull hook."

For more information on elephants and what you can do to help them go to:

http://www.savetheelephants.org/

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/

http://www.elephants.com/

Write to your legislators, media outlets and local venues where circuses rent space. Tell them that the abuse must stop. There are so many wonderful forms of entertainment that don't include animal cruelty -- ball games and other sporting events, movies, plays, and concerts. Enjoy the weekend. Do something fun that does not involve an elephant wearing a Leprechaun hat.

We Can Make a Difference!

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus will be pulling into Washington, D.C. this week. Ringling Bros. is currently on trial in federal court in Washington, D.C. for the cruel mistreatment of the elephants in its care. Many people who purchase tickets to the circus have no idea what life is like for a circus animals. Patrons need to be informed.

Those who want to see an end to the use and abuse of animals in traveling circuses, and want to help spread the word, are invited to help leaflet before each show at the Verizon Center, March 19-22nd. Volunteers can sign up online for one or more shifts at http://www.noanimalcircus.com. For more information, e-mail to NoAnimalCircus@hotmail.com.

The Circus: Hardly Entertainment!

In a few weeks Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus will come to town. In addition to the circus, Ringling will begin their stay by parading animals down Pennsylvania Avenue. As in years past, people will line the parade route and gawk at the wild animals. Is that entertainment? Should we feel good about watching wild animals perform asinine stunts, that are totally unlike everything a wild animal would do in the wild?

What is the difference between watching the circus and watching a professional ball game? For starters, players want to play. They've spent their entire lives preparing to play. They love it. They eat, breathe, and sleep baseball, basketball or football. And, they get paid good money, no GREAT money, to play ball. They are entertainers. What about other entertainers -- musical groups, singers or actors? They, too, work hard to do what they want to do. They choose to entertain us. And they, too, are paid handsomely for performing for our enjoyment.

What about the circus elephant? Have you ever seen an elephant in Africa choose the life a circus performer? Would a wild animal choose to spend most of its life in a box car, traveling from one location to another? And, not traveling in first class either. Circus elephants are chained and shackled. They are forced to stand in their own waste. Extremely social animals, circus elephants are kept isolated. They are poked, prodded and beaten with bull hooks (a rod with a hook at the end) that circus personnel call "guides". Would an elephant in the wild wear jewels or clothing? Would it stand on two legs?

People make choices. Circus animals do not. If people choose NOT to buy tickets, circus owners will not make money. And, if circus owners do not make money, they will not be able to maintain their circuses. Currently, circus owners make gobs of money because people choose to buy tickets to see wild animals do "tricks". Circus owners make the money. What do circus animals get out of the circus?