Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is now embroiled in accusations that their company has been abusing the elephants in their circus. Surprised? I thought such an act was common place. In fact the idea of a traveling circus still in existence is more surprising to me and others. The company’s list of offenses includes but is not limited to:

• - Repeated strikes against the elephants with a bullhook (such strikes leave scarring and other injuries)
• - Elephants being chained for an extraneous amount of time

Born Free USA, the plaintiff in the suit against Ringling Bros. brought forth the allegations of abuse. Veterinarians from the San Diego Zoo confirmed the group’s suspicions of abuse. When confronted with the evidence, Kenneth Feld, President of Ringling Brothers parent company, stated “all elephant handlers at Ringling strike elephants with bullhooks.”

Born Free USA is a national non-profit animal advocacy organization that attempts to protect wildlife in the U.S. and globally. For further information on the story visit: www.bornfreeusa.org/ringling.