Sonia Horon, Global Animal
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus is almost in town, and with them they bring animal abuse and cruelty. The circus has years of animal misconduct on its hands, from physical harm to improper feeding. The list goes on. Animals that belong in the wild are enslaved and forced to perform unnatural tricks for entertainment.
Elephants at Ringling suffer a great deal from a lack of veterinary care and constant beatings by trainers with bullhooks, to cramped, dirty boxcars where they spend their life traveling and performing like puppets. PETA reports, “At least 29 elephants, including four babies, have died since 1992, including an 8-month-old baby elephant named Riccardo who was destroyed after he fractured his hind legs when he fell from a circus pedestal.” Baby elephants are harshly trained from a very young age. They never know their natural environment and never experience the joys of roaming in family packs and playing in water and mud. Instead they are separated from their moms and forced into a life of ropes, hooks, electric shock and torture.
Last year, the “Greatest Show On Earth” was fined a $270,000 fine for violating the Animal Welfare Act. See the circus schedule, and help put an end to Ringling Bros. and their cruelty by peacefully protesting at a circus near you.
They claim they have had no violations….I guess these videos are fake? We boycotted last evening, Ringling Brothers. This must end soon. Terrible.
I don’t understand why people don’t say anything or do anything about it, that’s way still continued the cruelty circus. I will never support them and if I see one for sure I will call animal rights… right to away to stop once and for all ..
Harsh. I’m suprised the elephants tolerate it. I went to an animal circus in America when I was younger and it was great. The mistreatment and cruel handling aren’t obvious for the uninformed though so the show goes on…More…
I quite agree Sharon – more people should boycott circus’s – if people stopped going they would have to shut down.
I have been boycotting the circus for years. It’s cruel what they do for money. I will never support them.
I’ve always hated the circus.