Protesters Draw Attention to Ringling's Practice of Forcing Lame Elephants to Perform Stunts
For Immediate Release:
May 16, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Trenton, N.J. -- An "elephant" on crutches will lead PETA protesters on Wednesday as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus prepares for its opening show at Sun National Bank Center. The protesters will display signs that read, "This Is Ringling Baby-Elephant Training," alongside banners emblazoned with 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. Additionally, PETA will screen its new video exposé of the Ringling Bros. circus narrated by Alec Baldwin.
When: Wednesday, May 16, 12 noon
Where: Intersection of E. State and N. Broad streets, Trenton
"Trenton residents would run screaming from the big top if they knew that elephants used by Ringling suffer a lifetime of abuse," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "As infants, elephants are torn away from their mothers and beaten into submission—and older, arthritic elephants, such as Aussan, are still forced to perform painful contortions despite their ill health."
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.