Protesters to Draw Attention to Circus's Practice of Forcing Lame Elephants to Perform Stunts
For Immediate Release:
July 11, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Houston, Texas -- 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 Reliant Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. 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: Wednesday, July 11, 12 noon
Where: Reliant Stadium, Kirby and Murworth drives, Houston
"Houston 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 Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "As much as kids love animals, the last place their parents 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.