Ringling Brothers Circus Elephants
When I was a little girl, I used to love to attend the circus, but I was bothered any time a trainer poked or prodded an animal to do something. Little did I know there was a lot more abuse going on behind the scenes. I watched this PETA video recently and it has only reinforced what I've read and seen previously, https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2359.
I am appalled at the abuse of these elephants (and tigers) depicted in this video. I am inclined to believe it happens quite universally in the circus world with all show animals.
Elephants are emotional animals and an iconic symbol of strength and power, yet their spirits are being broken by circuses such as Ringling Brothers. Elephants share many of our feelings. Their moods are visible through their expressions such as sunken eyes and drooping ears. They form close-knit bonds with their herds and if a family member dies they will actually cover the body with leaves and are known to revisit the site. In this PETA video, we see "Tonka", a 25 year old elephant, showing signs of psychological stress--including swaying from side to side, bobbing her head, and swinging her right foot. Tonka's world, since five years old, has been beatings with bull hooks and whips, confinement to cramped spaces, with shackles around her legs. She and others are still forced to perform. It is tragic to know these animals are being broken and heartlessly tortured to perform for the public's amusement.
Circus goers must be more aware of the corrupt industry they are feeding when they attend circuses. Why do we need animals to perform for us in a circus anyway? Pure entertainment at what cost? I now realize that by attending these circuses that use animals (most do), I am supporting this suffering. Consequently, I will attend any more circuses and urge you to refrain from attending also. These animals would be better off in a sanctuary or wildlife preserve, where the public would still be allowed to see them.
At the bottom of the video link is a letter "Please Seize Ringling Elephants." It urges the USDA to seize the unit's elephants, place in a sanctuary, and investigate the conduct of this circus and its employees, while vigorously enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. You can make a difference by signing this letter.
If you want to see animals, I would suggest you do as we did two summers ago. Our family took a safari tour at "Safari West" which is a 400 acre wildlife preserve in Santa Rosa, http://www.safariwest.com/whois/. Established by Peter Lang in 1989, "Safari West "gained membership in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, one of only six private facilities in North America to belong to that prestigious organization. The ongoing mission of Safari West is wildlife preservation through breeding, education, research and public interaction.
Below are pictures from our safari:
In Buddhism, a white elephant represents the mental strength achieved after taming the mind.
I had no idea animals were so mistreated by circus trainers. It's unfair and above all wrong. Reading this, I will not attend any more circus shows. It saddens me that animals are being treated so poorly. I do not like it at all.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad to see the way humans treat animals with force. I have two recommendations for to check out in with relation to this topic. First and foremost, have you read the book Water for Elephants? If not, do so. It's based on a true story back in the 1920's when circuses were starting to come about. It's an amazing tale about a trainer and the owner of the circus. Secondly, there is a documentary on Netflix called Buck, it won the Sundance Film festival in 2010. This documentary is about the actual Horse Whisperer. Again, this is an amazing tale about how at a young age this boy was abused by his father, ran away, and made a connection with horses. I want you to see/read both because it shows there are people who stand up for the treatment of animals, firm, yet gentle.
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