Ringling Bros. Circus To Be Charged With Elephant Abuse

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ruled against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, allowing a case to go forward charging the circus with violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for its routine abuse of endangered Asian elephants.

The case has been brought against the circus by a former Ringling Bros.

elephant worker, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), and The Fund for Animals, who will present eyewitness testimony and videotaped evidence that Ringling Bros. beats its elephants with bull hooks.

Today’s ruling stated that "in the present case, the Court must accept as true plaintiff’s assertions concerning defendants’ treatment of Asian elephants, a species considered ‘endangered’ under the ESA."

"The ASPCA is very pleased with the court’s decision," said Lisa Weisberg, senior vice president of Government Affairs and Public Policy at the ASPCA.

"We believe we will successfully prove that Ringling Bros. engages in ongoing abuse of the elephants during the separation process of babies from their mothers and in the training of elephants to perform."

Michael Markarian, President of The Fund for Animals, added, "The public deserves to know the truth about the routine animal cruelty that goes on under the ‘Big Top.’"

"Elephants, including babies, have suffered greatly at the hands of Ringling Bros.," said Cathy Liss, President for the Animal Welfare Institute. "Our lawsuit simply seeks to stop the torture."

Former Ringling Bros. elephant trainer and co-plaintiff in the case, Tom Rider, witnessed routine beatings of the circus elephants with bull hooks and his testimony is also a part of the animal groups’ case.

The groups are represented by the public interest law firm of Meyer & Glitzenstein. A copy of the court’s four-page order is available online at www.fund.org/uploads/RinglingOrder.pdf.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.