Protesters Draw Attention to Ringling's Violent Treatment of Baby Elephants After Circus Pays Biggest Fine in U.S. History
For Immediate Release:
May 3, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Providence, R.I. -- "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 the Dunkin Donuts Center on Friday as the circus prepares for its opening show. The PETA protesters, including an "elephant," will also display banners emblazoned with compelling photos taken inside Ringling's training center. 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 babies to learn to perform circus tricks out of fear of punishment.
When: Friday, May 4, noon
Where: Dunkin Donuts Center, Sabin and Snow streets, Providence
"Providence 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 shows, 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.
