The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, one of biggest circus companies in the United States, announced that it would stop using elephants in its shows by 2018, BBC reported.
From Mother Jones If you ever doubt that people can make a change, listen up. Animal activists and animal lovers have been working years to get elephants out of the circus and it's finally happening. Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey are responding to the the voices of opposition that have only grown louder over the years. Their 133 year old tradition of trained elephants performing under the big top is coming to an end. They announced today they are phasing out elephant acts by 2018. (I wish the decision would start NOW.)
This is truly great news for our intelligent, sensitive, and emotional giants who deserve to live freely. Circus conditions have been deplorable and treatment of these spectacular souls has been shameful.
This should stand as a wonderful testament to what people can do in this world to make it a better place.
If you don't know much about what has gone at circuses please click on the link here or below and follow an investigation by Mother Jones.
This is truly great news for our intelligent, sensitive, and emotional giants who deserve to live freely. Circus conditions have been deplorable and treatment of these spectacular souls has been shameful.
This should stand as a wonderful testament to what people can do in this world to make it a better place.
If you don't know much about what has gone at circuses please click on the link here or below and follow an investigation by Mother Jones.
But a yearlong Mother Jones investigation shows that Ringling elephants spend most of their long lives either in chains or on trains, under constant threat of the bullhook, or ankus—the menacing tool used to control elephants.
They are lame from balancing their 8,000-pound frames on tiny tubs and from being confined in cramped spaces, sometimes for days at a time. They are afflicted with tuberculosis and herpes, potentially deadly diseases rare in the wild and linked to captivity.
Barack, a calf born on the eve of the president’s inauguration, had to leave the tour in February for emergency treatment of herpes—the second time in a year.
Since Kenny’s death, 3 more of the 23 baby elephants born in Ringling’s vaunted breeding program have died, all under disturbing circumstances that weren’t fully revealed to the public.
More: Read court transcripts, vet records, and
other primary sources from this investigation.
other primary sources from this investigation.
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