AR-News: anti-circus op-ed published in Maryland's PG Journal

[Miyun Park]

http://tinyurl.com/3e7z8

Circuses Not Fun for Elephants
[Published in "The Prince George's Journal" on March 4, 2004.]

The self-proclaimed "Greatest Show on Earth" is coming soon to our area, and
some readers may be considering buying a ticket. But before calling
Ticketmaster, we should think about the animals who are forced to perform
for the Ringling Bros. circus and decide whether we want to teach our
children this is an acceptable form of entertainment.

Despite the image painted by Ringling's promoters, the animals exhibited by
the circus perform out of fear and intimidation.

In a sworn affidavit to Congress, former Ringling elephant barn-keeper Tom
Rider wrote: "After my three years working with elephants in the circus, I
can tell you that they live in confinement and are beaten...when they don't
perform properly."

Former Ringling performer Kelly Tansy stated at a press conference: "On my
very first day with the circus...I saw an elephant being beaten in what
appeared to be a disciplinary action. The beating was so severe the elephant
screamed. I have come to realize, through all the circuses I have worked
for, that mistreatment of animals is a standard part of training and is
thought to be a 'necessary' part of exhibiting them."

To add to a long list of citations for noncompliance with even the minimal
protections of the Animal Welfare Act (
http://www.circuses.com/ringlingfactsheet.html ), Ringling Bros. trainers
have been videotaped using whips and bullhooks on elephants. Ringling has
even successfully lobbied against a bill to ban electrocuting elephants.

Circuses that use animals teach our children that it's acceptable to remove
animals from their natural habitats and force them to perform degrading acts
through the use of intimidation, all in the name of fun.

For both the animals' and our children's sake, let's move into the 21st
century and stop viewing animals as means for our amusement.

Paul Shapiro is the campaigns director for Takoma Park-based nonprofit
animal advocacy organization Compassion Over Killing, www.cok.net .