Ringling Brothers Circus unites Bay Area animal groups calling for a boycott (VIDEO) by Shelley Frost
These days when the circus comes to town they attract more than just families excited to see the clowns and wild animals. Protesters by the dozens holding posters and signs decrying the treatment of animals crowd the circus entrance with the aim of turning away ticket holders from what some of them call "the cruelest show on earth."
During the months of August and September, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus is performing in Oakland, San Jose, Stockton and Sacramento. At Wednesday's opening night at Oakland's Oracle Arena, over 200 protesters from Bay Area animal groups showed up passing out flyers, holding banners and posters depicting elephants and tigers in sorry looking conditions.
Humane organizations unite
Five northern California animal organizations collaborated to urge a boycott of the circus. Carrie Harrington, spokesperson for the Marin Humane Society (MHS) says, "By uniting together we are a more powerful voice for the humane treatment of animals because it is important for people to realize what goes on behind the scenes at circuses."
Harrington notes that in Marin County, the outcry against animals used in circuses has been so strong that now, circuses with animal acts no long come to town.
The groups are calling for a boycott of Ringling Brothers citing "routine abuses of animals where trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, bullhooks, electric ptrods and other painful tools."
They also say that circuses with performing animals "send the wrong message to children."
Allison Lindquist of East Bay SPCA notes that when children see an elephant performing tricks in a circus act they are not seeing what elephants do in their natural environment. "The circus does not educate the public about natural behaviors. These animals do tricks out of fear of pain."
Tool of training or pain
Animal protection groups find the bullhook, a training implement used by circus elephant trainers, highly objectionable. Lindsay Rajit, spokesperson for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) describes the bullhook as "a heavy metal tipped rod that closely resembles a fireplace poker."
She goes on to point out that although elephants may look like they have
tough, thick skin they can actually feel a fly land on them.
Shelley Frost, Gia and Amanda, 8 yrs old (Photo: Bret Frost)
Elephant before performance (Photo: Bret Frost)
Protesters at Ringling Brothers Oakland Arena (Photo: Bret Frost)
Janice
Aria, Director of Animal Stewardship for Ringling
Brothers disputes the claims made by the animal groups. She says
that Ringling Brothers is in full compliance with USDA, state and
municipal regulations regarding animal care and treatment.
When
asked about the use of bullhooks to train the elephants Aria says that
during the past 40 years training techniques and tools have improved.
"The bullhooks of today are 18 - 22 inch fiberglass sticks with a hook
on the end." Aria says that the use of the bullhook with an elephant is
no different than the use of a leash with a dog or a bridle and bit
with a horse. "These animals have strong relationships with their
trainers who use the bullhooks mostly to guide the animals."
Aria
disagrees with Rajit about whether or not elephants feel insects on
their skin. She believes they do not. However she adds that she has
seen a fly land on an elephant's skin, and that it was able to draw
blood.
Children on opposite sides of the circus
Why
do families continue to bring their children to circuses if what animal
groups are saying is true? Harrington from MHS says, "In this economy,
circus ticket prices are affordable." She adds that educating the
public about the abuse animals endure behind the circus tent still must
continue. "Animals are not here for our entertainment."
Parents
and children attending the circus had varied responses to the
protesters' message. One mother seemed genuinely surprised as she
looked at a flyer that depicted a baby elephant tethered with ropes
pulling him awkwardly to the ground. She said, "I'm assuming the
animals are well taken care of." Then she repeated almost hopefully,
"I'm assuming,"
Another mother there with her three young
daughters said that the protesters have never deterred her from coming
to the circus. "It's been a tradition for us."
Towards the
parking lot, two young girls, Gia and Amanda both eight years old, stood
with their protest signs that read: "I'm an elefriend. DON'T GO TO THE
CIRCUS!" The girls young voices called out to the crowd swirling past
them, "It's not right! They feel pain! If you knew how much it hurt
you wouldn't be watching it. You wouldn't be looking at it, you
wouldn't!"
Shelley Frost has served in both executive
and volunteer positions at animal shelters. A co-author of Your Adopted
Dog, she also produces documentaries about animal issues.
