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Since the crystal clear footage of Ringling Bros. workers beating animals isn't going to be brushed under the circus tent anytime soon—and since the Feds are now investigating—the company has released their second statement. In it, they call the PETA footage "deceptively edited," but unless the animal rights organization got their hands on some of George Lucas's CGI experts, that seems a ridiculous accusation.
Their full statement is after the jump, but in summary they note they have conducted veterinary examinations and found that the elephants are all in good health. Of course, this does not take in to account what decades of abuse will do to an animal emotionally, nor does it factor in the animal being in pain at the moment they are punched in the face or hit with a bullhook.
They also admit the footage "may appear disturbing," and as such they have "initiated a review of elephant handling on the Red Unit. The company is addressing the matter and will take all necessary actions, including redoubling its educational efforts, taking disciplinary actions, where appropriate, and possibly instituting additional systems of internal monitoring." Maybe they could start those education efforts by showing this video of what not to do.
In the meantime, this summer expects to see the outcome in the lawsuit filed against the circus for their treatment of elephants. PETA also monitors all circuses and you can keep up here (sometimes it can get even uglier).
Following the release last week of a deceptively edited video by the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey conducted veterinary examinations of all our elephants on the Ringling Bros. ® Red Unit. This and the 60 other veterinary examinations over the past six months found that the elephants are all in good health.Ringling Bros. believes that the validity of the latest footage released by PETA, which may appear disturbing, remains questionable and that PETA’s video allegations should have been disclosed immediately, not months later, if they were truly concerned about the welfare of our elephants. Nevertheless, Ringling Bros. wants to assure the public that we take any allegations concerning animal care very seriously, no matter the source. The company has initiated a review of elephant handling on the Red Unit to maintain the high standard of respect for animals required by Ringling Bros., which goes beyond meeting regulatory requirements. The company is addressing the matter and will take all necessary actions, including redoubling its educational efforts, taking disciplinary actions, where appropriate, and possibly instituting additional systems of internal monitoring.
In addition to being regularly examined by a team of veterinarians, the Red Unit just concluded two weeks of performances in Anaheim, CA, where it was inspected by local animal control officials and was in compliance with animal welfare laws and regulations. In the past six months, including the time period allegedly covered by PETA’s video, this circus unit has been inspected by 12 different state, local and federal inspection authorities and was in compliance with animal welfare laws and regulations.
“Ringling Bros. is committed to ensuring the absolute best for its animals and those who care for them, including correcting any perception that may contradict our dedication to the care and management of the largest herd of Asian elephants in the Western Hemisphere,” said Janice Aria, Director of Animal Stewardship and Training, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. “By addressing this issue, we trust that our customers, our employees and our industry colleagues will continue to see Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as a responsible animal steward and that we are committed to providing the very best of care for all our animals.”
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"Of course, this does not take in to account what decades of abuse will do to an animal emotionally"
Exactly. Maybe they are in okay physical health (except when being bludgeoned), but these animals are psychologically damaged.
NO MORE ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES.
I'd like for them to actually release the veterinary reports and all the inspection reports they cite.
No animals in circuses. Especially extremely intelligent animals like elephants. Unless they're planning on giving the elephants bullhooks so they can beat on the trainers.
even as a child I never liked animal performances.
I'm all for banning animals in circuses.
Boycott the circus. Take your money and your kids to an educational class at the Bronx Zoo WCS.
"what decades of abuse will do to an animal emotionally..."
let's get to the bottom of this pronto. cue the resident elephant psychologist!
Really? It's a joke that animals suffer needlessly?
i think you meant to say, "Elephant Whisperer, reporting for duty, sir."
yes, i do think trying to gauge an animal's emotional state is just downright foolish since we tend to apply our own human feelings onto the animal.
BTW, i do not condone or patronize circuses or zoos. anything keeping an animal from it's natural state is unfair to their right of existence.
Elephants are intelligent and sensitive creatures. In many parts of Africa where the elders are murdered for their ivory tusks, the juveniles become like a pack of wild teenagers in Bed-Stuy.
No doubt their wild habitats are shrinking quickly, which leads to confrontations with humans, but when the young ones are reintroduced to a population with elder statesmen, they get in line and behave much better.
Keep in mind elephants are not predatory, so even though the same might be said of other animals, elephants are peaceful creatures with complicated yet simple emotional needs.
I generally put PETA in the same boat as Al Sharpton (ie. don't pay attention), but kudos to them for getting this footage, which is really sad. If PETA can stick to real issues like these rather than trying to rename fish "sea kittens" or getting upset at Pike Place marketers for throwing (already dead) fish, then they'll get a lot more respect from everyone.
I think Ringling should pay for years of elephant psychotherapy anyway...just to stick it to them.
Only scumbags can be behind exploiting and ABUSING animals for money.
This business is dirty, unethical, and cruel...what's the point?
Animals for entertainment: ought to be illegal!
In elephant society, SIZE MATTERS! Common sense should tell anyone with even average intelligence that the only way a puny, scrawny 160 lb. human can get a 8000-10000 lb elephant to do confusing, demeaning, painful "tricks" like sitting up, head stands, balancing all four of those huge legs on a tiny stool and twirling around in one direction and then in the other, mounting (very, very, confusing for females to mount other females) their sisters and going in circles, is to beat the hell out of them and to do it every day (a famous elephant trainer said that very thing and he meant it). Dominance is what's it's all about. And, it's very apparent in this video, that these people get off on exerting their dominance over these huge animals. These people are monsters and they should have to live in shame for robbing these magnificent, gentle giants of their dignity. Another person who knows elephants well, says that "if humans wanted to be better, they would be more like elephants".