Ringling Bros. & Barnam & Bailey on trial for Elephant Abuse

[Beaverhausen]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/03/earlyshow/contributors/main4772226.shtml

Elephant Abuse Under Big Top?

Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus Heads To Trial On Abuse Charges

(CBS) The treatment of elephants in captivity has been debated for decades. Now, animal welfare groups are suing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for what they call abusive treatment of elephants.

Early Show correspondent and resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner Bell took a close look at heart-wrenching footage before the trial was to begin Wednesday.

"We've all seen them, elephants marching in the big top and standing on tiny pedestals. But what does it take to get the massive pachyderms to do those tricks?" Bell asked.

That's at the center of a first-of-its-kind lawsuit that claims mistreating circus elephants is nothing to clown around about.

And though the Ringling Bros. circus has long dubbed itself "The Greatest Show on Earth," some animal rights groups say elephants are being abused under the big top.

Purported undercover video provided to CBS News by the Animal Welfare Institute shows Asian elephants kept by Ringling Bros. enduring harsh treatment.

"We have amassed a wealth of video footage throughout this case. We have video footage that shows the elephants being hit with bull hooks, being struck with bull hooks," said Tracey Silverman, an attorney for the institute that, along with the ASPCA and the Fund for Animals, is suing the company that owns the circus. Their hope is to stop what they call inhumane treatment of an endangered species.

"They have the elephants hours and hours continuously chained," Silverman said.

more at the link

[Triana]

1. GOOD. I want this animal abusing "circus" shut down!

I can't stand them.

Elephants are VERY familial and intelligent animals. It breaks my heart to see the poor creatures treated like this and there is NO excuse for it!

[Bigleaf]

5. Agree 100%. Only Cirque Du Soleil for my family. These fuckers are scum!

[EraOfResponsibility]

10. the only elephants I wanna see being mistreated are in CONGRESS

hehe

[Beavker]

2. What's new?

My infant son will never grow up seeing a live circus. We have a nice Zoo here in Omaha that actually shows these animals, though not in the wild, in a more natural setting. We'll hit the SD Zoo and Wild Animal park when we visit Grandma in San Diego. Wanna see circus? Watch CNBC. The participants are willing.

[ceile]

3. Finally! n/t

[Beaverhausen]

4. kick for one more R

[IndyOp]

6. I've always loved animals and I've always hated circuses. (n/t)

[leftchick]

7. Right as they are pulling into my town for the

"Cruelest Show On Earth". I am so glad we many finally see them pay for their horrendous abuses.

More info here...

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/a1a6f_blog.php

[Beaverhausen]

8. kick -news from day one of the trial

http://www.hsus.org/in_the_courts/news_press/ringling_brothers_courtroom.html

[EraOfResponsibility]

9. LOCK THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS UP!!!!

ALL OF 'EM!

[flvegan]

11. Proud to say that some of that footage is mine.

VERY proud. It's nice having a great schematic of a wide open trainyard in Tampa every January.

[Beaverhausen]

13. alright!

:yourock:

[TahitiNut]

12. Good.

:applause: