In Violation of D.C. Law, Ringling Chains Elephants So Tightly That They Can Barely Move, Forces Crippled Elephants to Perform, Says PETA
For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Washington D.C. -- Three "bloodied," bandaged, and limping "elephants" will lead PETA protesters on Thursday as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus prepares for its opening show at the Verizon Center. Holding signs that read, "Free Luna," "Free Siam," and "Free Aussan"—three of the elephants currently traveling with Ringling whose lameness has been verified by a veterinarian with more than 40 years of experience working with captive elephants—the protesters will call on the circus to retire the suffering animals and get them off the road.
When: Thursday, March 15, 10 a.m.
Where: Verizon Center, 601 F St. N.W. (near the intersection with Seventh Street N.W.), Washington
PETA members will explain to passersby that last year, the D.C. Department of Health admitted that Ringling was chaining its elephants at night and knew that they were chained in such a restrictive manner that they could take only a single step in any direction—a violation of district law—but would not authorize an hour of overtime to go to the venue to inspect the circus, meaning that this practice is likely to continue backstage this year. Additionally, late last year, Ringling paid the largest fine in circus history—$270,000—for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
"Every night, after being forced to perform painful contortions so that the circus can bring in the bucks, crippled and ailing elephants are restrained by Ringling employees so tightly that they must lie in their own waste," says PETA Director Delcianna Winders. "PETA reminds families that if their children love animals, the last place to take them is to an animal circus."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.