Protesters Draw Attention to Ringling's Practice of Forcing Lame Elephants to Perform Stunts
For Immediate Release:
March 22, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
DeSoto County, Miss. -- Holding posters reading, "This Is Ringling Baby-Elephant Training," and emblazoned with compelling photos taken inside Ringling's training center, PETA protesters will converge on Landers Center Thursday evening. The photos expose how baby elephants used by Ringling are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with steel-tipped bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods. These abusive sessions go on for several hours a day in order to force the baby elephants to learn to perform circus tricks out of fear of punishment.
When: Thursday, March 22, 6 p.m.
Where: Landers Center, Pepper Chase and Venture drives, Southaven, Miss.
"Memphis-area residents would run screaming from the big top if they knew how baby elephants are violently forced to perform difficult, confusing, and sometimes painful tricks," says PETA Director Colleen O'Brien. "We're telling parents that if their kids love animals, the last place they should take them is the circus."
Late last year, Ringling paid the largest fine in circus history—$270,000—for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
For more information, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.