PETA Calls On U.S. Department of Agriculture to Prevent Circus From Forcing Ailing Elephants to Return to the Road
For Immediate Release:
December 12, 2011
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Indianapolis -- After a PETA captive wildlife expert observed an elephant suffering from diarrhea during a performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Indianapolis, a highly regarded veterinarian with decades of experience caring for elephants joined the PETA expert in attending the circus's remaining Indianapolis shows from December 2 to December 4. They observed elephants with visible scars from bullhook wounds who were suffering from lameness and arthritis. Armed with their observations, PETA sent an urgent letter today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) detailing numerous apparent violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act—which have continued even after Ringling's parent company paid a record-setting $270,000 penalty for such violations. PETA is now calling on officials to immediately investigate the circus and ensure that suffering elephants are not forced to return to the road when Ringling resumes its tour in January.
"Apparently, a $270,000 fine was not enough to convince Ringling to clean up its act and stop forcing suffering animals to perform painful tricks in its shows," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The USDA must act immediately to provide relief to the arthritic, scarred, and lame elephants we observed in Indianapolis."
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PETA's letter to the USDA follows.
December 12, 2011
Dr. Elizabeth Goldentyer
USDA/APHIS/AC
920 Main Campus Dr., Ste. 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210
Dear Dr. Goldentyer:
It has now been more than a year since we brought to your attention the fact that multiple lame elephants have been forced to travel and perform with Ringling. Yet nothing has been done to remedy the suffering that these animals endure. We now have gathered additional evidence of lameness in elephants used by Ringling, as highlighted below and detailed in the attached appendix. The USDA can no longer turn a blind eye to this serious, chronic problem. It is imperative that Ringling be strictly prohibited from forcing any lame or otherwise ailing elephants to endure the rigors of travelling and performing.
From December 1 to 5, 2011, after the settlement agreement between the USDA and Ringling, one of my staff members attended all seven of Ringling's Red Unit's Indianapolis, Ind., shows. He was joined by Philip Ensley, D.V.M., for six shows from December 2 to 5. You are already familiar with Dr. Ensley's credentials and know that he is one of only about 120 veterinarians in the world who is a diplomate in the American College of Zoological Medicine and that he is absolutely conversant on the condition of the elephants used by Ringling. Henry M. Richardson, D.V.M., was also present for three shows on December 3 and another on December 4. Dr. Richardson has 42 years of experience caring for captive wild animals, including extensive experience with Asian elephants.
All three expert witnesses found reason for continued serious concerns regarding the elephants' overall health and well-being. These eight animals displayed abnormal, stereotypic behaviors; scarring from excessive and chronic bullhook abuse; evidence of pressure sores; inadequately cared for feet, including one elephant with an abscessed toe nail; and excessive stiffness, a symptom of painful arthritis. One elephant suffered from diarrhea during Ringling's opening night performance, as I reported to you on December 2. The experts also observed a zebra's escape from a pen, a tiger whose tail was caught in the guillotine door of a transport enclosure, elephants who were walked in public areas without individual handlers, and an elephant who outpaced her handler, posing a serious public health risk.
Fifty-four-year-old elephants Aussan and Sarah are still forced to maintain the circus's harried schedule despite clear evidence of a dramatic decline in their physical condition. We ask that you take enforcement action based on the evidence provided here, and ensure that Sarah, Aussan, and all other suffering elephants with Ringling are permanently removed from the road. Their suffering was not resolved by the settlement agreement between the USDA and Feld Entertainment, and it continues unabated.
May we hear something positive from you? Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Delcianna Winders
Director of Captive Animal
Law Enforcement
PETA