Video Acts as Undeniable Proof: Baby Elephants Tied Up and Electro-Shocked by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Trainers

In my research today for another posting I came across this video of absolute unspeakable cruelty toward BABY Elephants. This truly shows the truth of how circuses like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus MAKE elephants do unnatural tricks - they torture them. If you don't believe me then look at the video.

To see this unbelievable cruelty which shows via video Baby Elephants Tied Up and Electro-Shocked by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Trainers visit: http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/bound-babies.asp

Artist Amy Grace Draws Attention to the Cruelty of Circuses and of Course of the "Cruelest Show on Earth" Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

I am a firm believer in using graphics to show the reality of the issues we discuss. Photos and videos go a long way toward changing hearts and minds, as it’s hard to forget images.

I’ve pasted in one of Amy’s graphic art pieces below titles “Elephants Never Forget” which I believe delivers a strong visual message about the hell and cruelty animals in circuses endure, especially elephants.

You can view the photo directly at her site at http://amygrace.com/blog/2010/08/elephants-never-forget/

To see unbelievable cruelty which shows via video Baby Elephants Tied Up and Electro-Shocked by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Trainers visit http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/bound-babies.asp

For more on the cruelty of circuses, including videos showing the reality of the abuse animals endure in them, visit http://www.circuses.com/ringling.asp

To see more of the work of Amy Grace, visit her site at http://amygrace.com/blog/

Here is what she writes directly under the graphic athttp://amygrace.com/blog/2010/08/elephants-never-forget/

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and other circuses beat and whip elephants to force them to perform silly tricks. Far away from the big-top spotlight, the cries of these isolated and scared animals go unheard.

Many may or may not know that I am a big advocate for animal rights. It really breaks my heart to pieces to see any animal suffer, and there’s a lot of abuse that goes on today…most of which people probably aren’t even aware of. I do what I can to help bring awareness to these issues…so when PETA recently sent out notices about these poor circus elephants, I was immediately inspired to do my own photo piece that would help to bring notice to the issue. I truly feel for these poor animals. I will never support the abuse of animals for the entertainment of people by taking my child to the circus. I hope that others can say the same.

Chains are for swings, not elephants.

Boycott ringling.

www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com

Due to Evidence of Abuse, Group Seeks to Revoke the Renewal of the Animal Exhibitor License To Feld Entertainment, Owner of Ringling Bros. Circus

As if the photo used in this story (see link to story below) isn’t enough to prove the unnatural nature and cruelty of the circus in relation to the use of live animals, then perhaps the evidence brought out in this incredible move will do so.

My hats off to making an attempt to make the end of Ringling Bros. circus legal. There is no doubt, given what has come forth, both from undercover videos and even prior Ringling Bros. employees, that the circus MUST use force and torture to make animals do very unnatural acts.

As stated below, “PETA says it has amassed 700 pages of documents, videos and photos alleging a history of abuse at the circus ranging from "breaking" baby elephants with electric prods and sharp metal hooks to whipping a tiger until it collapsed and lost control of its bowels….’The only way you can get a several-ton elephant to stand on his head is from fear of pain…’

“PETA also alleges a pattern of coverups, including lying to inspectors after animal injuries and hastily installing just the visible parts of a cage cooling system after a lion named Clyde died of heat stroke in a train crossing the sweltering Mojave desert in 2004.”

In terms of proof from inside Ringling Bros. as to the reality of its animal torture:

“Frank Hagan, a veteran Ringling Bros. lion handler who had asked the circus to stop the train and was later fired, told PETA he was threatened by circus lawyers to keep quiet about the big cat's death, PETA told The News.”

I’ve posted the story below. We can only hope for a successful result.

This video was part of the article I’ve posted below. Please take the time to view.

Article:

PETA to ask feds to shut Ringling Bros., claiming circus is guilty of elephant torture, coverups

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/04/12/2010-04-12_a_circus_of_horrors_animal_torture_coverups_all_part_of_ringling_bros_show_says_.html

BY HELEN KENNEDY

DAILY NEWS STAFFER WRITER

Sunday, April 11th 2010, 10:04 PM

Shutting down Ringling Bros.

PETA's war against Ringling Bros. escalates Monday when the animal rights group asks the feds to shut the popular circus, accusing it of elephant torture and brazen coverups.

"They've lied, they've tampered with evidence and they've thwarted the inspectors," said Jeff Kerr, general counsel for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

In a letter to be delivered Monday, PETA asks the Department of Agriculture to revoke or block the April 28 renewal of the animal exhibitor license issued to Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Bros.

"Abusive and violent treatment of animals ... is part and parcel of Ringling's traveling circus, which requires powerful animals, many of whom were once wild, to learn and perform tricks that are alien to their nature," writes PETA president Ingrid Newkirk.

Circus officials could not be reached for comment Sunday, but they have always insisted their animals are well cared for.

Past attempts to prosecute the circus for the same or similar claims have been unsuccessful.

A lawsuit brought against Ringling Bros. by a former trainer alleging rampant elephant abuse was dismissed in December by a judge who ruled the trainer had no standing to sue the circus.

PETA has filed a series of abuse complaints in the past to little effect, but the group hopes to get a more favorable hearing from the Obama administration than its predecessor.

"This is the first time we've taken all the evidence and put it together to show that this is not just one bad trainer, having one bad day, with one bad elephant," said Debbie Leahy, PETA's director of captive animal rescue. "This is chronic and systemic."

PETA says it has amassed 700 pages of documents, videos and photos alleging a history of abuse at the circus ranging from "breaking" baby elephants with electric prods and sharp metal hooks to whipping a tiger until it collapsed and lost control of its bowels.

"The only way you can get a several-ton elephant to stand on his head is from fear of pain," Kerr said. Last year, the Daily News was first to report on the group's undercover video showing elephants being beaten backstage at the Greatest Show on Earth.

PETA also alleges a pattern of coverups, including lying to inspectors after animal injuries and hastily installing just the visible parts of a cage cooling system after a lion named Clyde died of heat stroke in a train crossing the sweltering Mojave desert in 2004.

Frank Hagan, a veteran Ringling Bros. lion handler who had asked the circus to stop the train and was later fired, told PETA he was threatened by circus lawyers to keep quiet about the big cat's death, PETA told The News.

Last week, a circus elephant named Dumbo stomped its handler to death in Pennsylvania - a coincidence of timing that PETA says underscores their argument that animals shouldn't be forced to perform tricks.

Horrified by the Cruelty of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, German Citizens Force Cancellation of all German Shows

Amazing. Quite a story not only about the reality of the cruelty behind circuses, but of how mass voicing of concern can help stop cruel events.

For more about the cruelty behind the circus including VIDEO PROOF see http://www.circuses.com/

Article:

RINGLING BROS. GERMANY TOUR CANCELED!

http://supervegan.com/blog/entry.php?id=1342

by Tod EmkoOctober 16, 2009 2:51pmFiled under: Activism Circus

Some of the tortured animals of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Horrified by the way the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus beats its animals, thousands of concerned German citizens appealed to the venues that would have hosted the Circus in Germany.

This concern for animal welfare made it clear that Ringling Bros. is not welcome in Germany because of the way Ringling tortures animals. The result is that Ringling Bros. canceled their entire tour of Germany!

If Germany can stop the circus from coming to town, what's stopping us in the US from opposing such blatant useless cruelty?

Tebala Shrine Circus Accused of Mistreatment of Elephants

Another circus sticking to the cruel and antiquated use of Elephants.

Article:

PETA Calls for Seizure of Elephants at Loves Park Circus

http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/47169197.html

Elephants are the iconic symbol of circus' around the world, but animal rights activists are calling for the seizure of three of them being used in a circus right here in the stateline. 23 News Reporter Chris Norman takes us under the big top with a look at this creature controversy.

Wide eyed excitement at the Tebala Shrine Circus, tainted by allegations of animal mistreatment. PETA, or people for the ethical treatment of animals, says three elephants, one seen here lost a combined 18-hundred pounds, just in the last year.

"These elephants are dragged around the country in over heated trailers for most of the year instead of walking up to thirty miles a day free of chains with their extended family in their native homeland," said RaeLeann Smith, PETA Circus amd Government Specialist.

Hamid Circus brought the elephants to the Indoor Sports Center. Its VP James Hamid Jr. says he and other circus owners hear these allegations all of the time. He denies PETA's claims and says there's nothing wrong with how his elephants are treated.

"There are certain people out there that don't do the right thing, and it's up to the producers to go out and find people who are following the letter of the law and treating their animals correctly, everyone on our show we feel does that," Hamid said. Hamid says he stays up to date with the US department of agriculture. An inspector was actually just out on Sunday. But PETA wants the government to step in now.

"We're hoping the USDA will act swiftly to ensure that these animals are pulled off the road and receiving adequate vet care before it's too late for them, " Smith said.

Hamid asks us to look at the animals, and judge for ourselves.

In its history the USDA has only confiscated two elephants. Over the weekend about 10,000 people attended the shows..