Whistleblower Testifies in Sworn Affidavit That Animals Were Repeatedly Struck With Steel-Tipped Bullhooks
For Immediate Release:
March 27, 2013
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Uniondale, N.Y. -- Based on a sworn affidavit from an events director for the company that manages the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (aka "Nassau Coliseum") that at least two elephants were repeatedly struck, hooked, and jabbed with bullhooks—weapons that resemble a fireplace poker with a sharp steel tip at one end—during Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' March 15 evening performance there, PETA has submitted a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to the whistleblower, one of the elephants was struck with such force that the animal repeatedly wailed and made distressed grunting sounds. The apparent violations of animal-protection laws have also been reported to the Nassau County District Attorney's Office and are currently under investigation.
"This is the second sworn affidavit within a year from arena workers of elephants being beaten, and both incidents occurred after Ringling paid a $270,000 fine for abusing and neglecting the animals it forces to perform," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Ringling is synonymous with animal abuse, so if your kids love animals, the last place to take them to is the circus."
According to the affidavit, a Ringling animal handler yanked an elephant with the sharp end of a bullhook embedded in the soft tissue of her mouth and also struck her torso and shoulders—over the course of several minutes—and each blow to her body made a loud "whack" sound. The handler also screamed several profanities at the animal, who was apparently reluctant to move forward. In a separate incident that same evening, a handler repeatedly jabbed and poked another elephant—the smallest one—with a bullhook when she hesitated to perform an awkward trick. PETA's complaint also refers to apparent violations of the law in Ringling's treatment of tigers.
For more information, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.
