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Following a press conference PETA held yesterday at which time they released footage of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus employees beating animals, the feds have now said they will investigate the matter. The Daily News reports they will try to find out if the circus has violated the Animal Welfare Act. With crystal clear footage of trainers beating on animals, one even punching an elephant in the face, you would think this investigation would be a short one. In response to all the unwanted attention, a spokesman for the circus sent us along this canned comment packed full of denial:
It is no surprise that PETA would once again release misinformation about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Ringling Bros. believes that the recent video produced and distributed by PETA is questionable in its context regarding the portrayal of the animal handlers at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Ringling Bros. is a fully licensed traveling exhibitor and from January through June of this year, the alleged time covered in the video, this particular Unit was found to be in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.Hmm, should we go to the tape again? Meanwhile, Madison Square Garden has yet to publicly respond to PETA's call to stop housing the show. A spokeswoman told the paper that execs will "discuss this kind of matter with [Ringling Bros.] directly and not through the media."The elephants and all the animals at Ringling Bros. are cared for by a team of accredited veterinarians and an animal care staff that ensures the animals’ needs are met and that they are in a safe and secure environment. Ringling Bros. is proud of its efforts to care for and increase the population of the endangered Asian elephant and we encourage people to come see for themselves that the animals are thriving in our care.
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lol, they're gonna need a magician to get out of this one. how can you deny video tape evidence? the next best thing would be a judge witnessing the abuse first hand.
I'm not a supporter of PETA's typical grandstanding and advertising/guerrila marketing antics, but this video is something that PETA should do more of - that's a productive use of activism, showing the truth behind the company's PR spin.
As is typical of Ringling, they have a canned response of "vets of staff, compliant with regulations" etc and saying nothing about the veracity of the footage.
I hope they get thrown to the lions.
I almost don't want to support it just because it's PETA. But fuck, I love me some elephants.
Having just watched the video, some of the "hits" appear to be more like taps, used mainly for training most likely, like tapping your dog's nose when he tries to eat poo.
However, that accounts for maybe 5% of what is shown in the tape in my opinion. Most of the hits are just plain abusive and malicious and seem to only serve the purpose of beating these poor animals.
On top of which, the fact that we still parade elephants and tigers around for entertainment purposes is pathetic and sad; Ringling Bros. serves no more legitimate purpose and should be shut down, and while "tapping" may be used for training purposes, elephants shouldn't be trained to begin with; they're wild animals, and we should be preserving them as such and only using amply-sized zoos to protect wild animals that can no longer protect themselves.
I, for one, can easily say I will never go to a Ringling Bros. circus again (haven't been since I was a kid anyway), and when my children are old enough to want to go, I will take them instead, to an educational day camp at the Wildlife Conservancy.
I agree with others here; PETA may be irritating at times (and extreme about geese), but this is a serious PR win on their part and is something they should do more of.
PETA win.
"...and extreme about geese..."
...and flies and cats and dogs and "sea kittens"...
mmmmmm...beer battered tiger.
Don't start the grill without me!
Speaking of annoying exhibisionist chicks painted like tigers, who else is tired of looking at the naked chick in the pink American Apparel skirt?
I agree with the irritating American Apparel ads (AA is so 2007), but the tiger-chick is smokin' hot. I would buy that PETA calendar.
Me, me, me!
Also very tired of the Atlantic City Train ads with the awful-looking people!
I'm surprised that the Elephants didn't try stomping their asses. They are quite intelligent. If I were in their position I'd cause a ruckus.
...which would inevitably lead to a Donnybrook.
Funny that some people don't see beyond their own preference on guerilla tactics and totally ignore the facts on this situation!
The elephants are being abused with or without PETA involvement!
Lack of Awareness. That's something opponents of peta have plenty and bring as their contribution to animal welfare.
PETA ASIDE: do respect animal, do respect the animal laws in place, do understand ethical treatments of human being makes a better life for anybody, even humans... So simple yet such a task to enforce in those that prefer to think on themselves only!
Where is anyone saying that this is not animal abuse? People may not like PETA but no one here is saying this malicious treatment of elephants is ok
Elephants, tigers (and dolphins for good measure) = awesome
Ringling Bros = evil
PETA = usually irritating, but in this case very correct
Tigers in circuses:
Beaten, Battered, and Fried.
Ohm nom nom
Yes the elephants are being abused. But unfortunately as someone who used to be involved in animal rights, I would not be surprised if the people hitting the animals are undercover PETA activists.
I am not saying that this doesn't happen on a regular basis, but PETA has been known to provide false proof of abuse because they cant catch it on tape. They, like other animal rights groups, often get themselves involved or hired by establishments and then tape themselves abusing the animals, if they cannot tape it being done by other employees.
PETA believes in harming a few to save the many, much like some other fairly radical groups. It is one of the reasons I disassociated myself with them.
Just keep that in mind the next time you support them and their activism's.