Protesters Draw Attention to Ringling's Violent Treatment of Baby Elephants After Circus Pays Biggest Fine in U.S. History
For Immediate Release:
May 1, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Albany, NY -- "It's hard for me to believe that anyone would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into show business, but for the elephants with Ringling Bros. … that's exactly what happens," says Alec Baldwin in PETA's new video exposé of the Ringling Bros. circus, which the group will screen outside Times Union Center on Wednesday as the circus prepares for its opening show. The PETA protesters, including an "elephant" on crutches, will hold signs that read, "Free Luna," "Free Siam," and "Free Aussan"—referring to 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: Wednesday, May 2, 12 noon
Where: Times Union Center, intersection of Hudson Avenue and Pearl Street, Albany
The protesters will also display compelling photos taken inside Ringling's training center, which expose how baby elephants are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with steel-tipped bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods in abusive training sessions that go on for several hours.
"Albany children would run screaming from the big top if they knew that sheer violence is used to get baby elephants to perform difficult, confusing, and even painful tricks," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "As PETA's video demonstrates, show business is no business for elephants."
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.