VIENNA, Virginia - The owner of the Ringling Bros. circus has agreed to pay a $270,000 fine to settle allegations that it violated federal animal-welfare laws in its handling of elephants, tigers, zebras and other exotic animals. More here.
Wikipedia reports in their article on elephants that "
There is growing resistance against the capture, confinement, and use of wild elephants. Animal rights advocates allege elephants in zoos and circuses "suffer a life of chronic physical ailments, social deprivation, emotional starvation, and premature death". Zoos argue that standards for treatment of elephants are extremely high and minimum requirements for such things as minimum space requirements, enclosure design, nutrition, reproduction, enrichment and veterinary care are set to ensure the well-being of elephants in captivity. However, elephants in zoos have a reduced life-span and reproduction compared to working elephants in timber camps[and in a survey of elephants in the UK, 54% of the elephants showed stereotypical behaviour.[ Circuses continue to have a mixed record. Recently, the city of Los Angeles closed an elephant act with Circus Vazquez due to numerous instances of abuse and neglect (April 2008), and according to PETA, 27 elephants owned by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus have died since 1992.
Elephants have traditionally been a major part of circuses around the world, being intelligent enough to be trained in a variety of acts (see for example P.T. Barnum's Jumbo and John L. Sullivan, the famous "Boxing Elephant"). However, conditions for circus elephants are unnatural (confinement in small pens or cages, restraints on their feet, lack of companionship of other elephants)."
I used to belong to the Shrine. One of the things I did not like about the Shrine was the Circus with the elephants. I enjoyed seeing the elephants and am always in awe of them but once I had been made aware of the treatment of their animals I really did not want to be associated with the Shrine Circus. You can read some of the facts about the Shrine Circus in a fact sheet here. I am not going to put the Shrine down. They do much good. However in some cases they need to wake up to the facts. Is it fair to raise money by mistreating the majestic animals who are intelligent, social and caring? One of the elephants in the Elephant Sanctuary (Link below) had a dog for a friend. Tarra and Bella were inseparable. When Bella was killed (probably by coyotes) Tarra carried her up to where she would be found and then mourned her much as humans mourn for their dead loves. You can see their story on the Web Site.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is home to rescued elephants. You can see them here.
I am glad that the Circus had to pay a fine. I wish that there was a law prohibiting the display of these animals. In the meantime I am glad that there are people who dedicate their lives to helping these endangered animals.
Wikipedia reports in their article on elephants that "
There is growing resistance against the capture, confinement, and use of wild elephants. Animal rights advocates allege elephants in zoos and circuses "suffer a life of chronic physical ailments, social deprivation, emotional starvation, and premature death". Zoos argue that standards for treatment of elephants are extremely high and minimum requirements for such things as minimum space requirements, enclosure design, nutrition, reproduction, enrichment and veterinary care are set to ensure the well-being of elephants in captivity. However, elephants in zoos have a reduced life-span and reproduction compared to working elephants in timber camps[and in a survey of elephants in the UK, 54% of the elephants showed stereotypical behaviour.[ Circuses continue to have a mixed record. Recently, the city of Los Angeles closed an elephant act with Circus Vazquez due to numerous instances of abuse and neglect (April 2008), and according to PETA, 27 elephants owned by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus have died since 1992.
Elephants have traditionally been a major part of circuses around the world, being intelligent enough to be trained in a variety of acts (see for example P.T. Barnum's Jumbo and John L. Sullivan, the famous "Boxing Elephant"). However, conditions for circus elephants are unnatural (confinement in small pens or cages, restraints on their feet, lack of companionship of other elephants)."
I used to belong to the Shrine. One of the things I did not like about the Shrine was the Circus with the elephants. I enjoyed seeing the elephants and am always in awe of them but once I had been made aware of the treatment of their animals I really did not want to be associated with the Shrine Circus. You can read some of the facts about the Shrine Circus in a fact sheet here. I am not going to put the Shrine down. They do much good. However in some cases they need to wake up to the facts. Is it fair to raise money by mistreating the majestic animals who are intelligent, social and caring? One of the elephants in the Elephant Sanctuary (Link below) had a dog for a friend. Tarra and Bella were inseparable. When Bella was killed (probably by coyotes) Tarra carried her up to where she would be found and then mourned her much as humans mourn for their dead loves. You can see their story on the Web Site.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is home to rescued elephants. You can see them here.
I am glad that the Circus had to pay a fine. I wish that there was a law prohibiting the display of these animals. In the meantime I am glad that there are people who dedicate their lives to helping these endangered animals.
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