Help put an end to elephant abuse...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/787638397?z00m=14944054

An upcoming TV series, "Greatest Show on Earth", promises a "behind-the-scenes" look at the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. But the real story is that Circus staff regularly abuse and torment performing elephants with bull hooks, chains and other devices.

The abuse of Ringling Bros. circus elephants -- well documented by animal welfare organizations, state humane agencies, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors -- violates both the federal Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibit the abuse of endangered animals used in entertainment.

Many have witnessed routine violent abuse and cruelty toward the elephants, including frequently hitting the elephants with bull hooks, rubbing dirt into sores of elephants to conceal their wounds, and routinely chaining the elephants on concrete or in cramped rail cars for many hours of every day and night.

This kind of cruelty is not entertainment -- contact TNT and urge them to cancel the "Greatest Show on Earth" series.

[flvegan]

1. Of course they fail to show how the elephants are broken and "trained".

Baseball bats to the skull, anyone?

Fuck Ringling.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. I wonder if TNT is aware of that...

I suspect many of the execs may have an inkling, but simply choose to shut their eyes to it for the sake of ratings. :(

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Circuses are evil.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. I grew up thinking they were so innocent and fun...

I always wanted to go, but my parents never took me. I guess they never told me why because they didn't want to upset me.

[Midlodemocrat]

23. I did, too. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how evil they are.

Never took the Midlets. Never will.

[stuntcat]

4. thank you!

the site said I signed it already the other day so I must have gotten an email from an animal group.
People who 'train' elephants to do those tricks should be publically shamed for life.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Thanks for signing!

:yourock:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. tweak

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. again

[Robeson]

8. Done.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Thank you!

:hug:

[RiffRandell]

11. Done.

I protested Ringling Bros. when it was in Atlanta a few years ago (comes every year, so do others)


It's not just elephants-----no animal should EVER perform in a circus. They are all slaves kept chained or behind bars when not performing.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. Thank you!

:hug:

[meow2u3]

12. Abuse a Republican instead

:rofl:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. LOL

:rofl:

[Submariner]

15. After the circus and zoo are finished abusing the poor critter

if they are lucky, they find their way to The Elephant Sanctuary, my favorite charity. Mostly Asian females, with 3 African females, they spend their days doing whatever they feel like doing, whenever they feel like doing it. They go swimming, rolling in the mud, try and chase deer, have their food and water brought to them at least twice a day, and basically they just enjoy chillin'.

From this link are ALL the Barnum & Bailey, Ringling Bros., Hawthorne, etc. horror stories, videos, an life stories of about 23 former abuse victims. Enjoy.

http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/index.php

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. I saw this place featured on Nature...

There was a pair of elephants who had been friends before they were separated many years ago. They were reunited in this sanctuary. Talk about a tear-jerker moment!

[Submariner]

20. That would be the "Shirley & Jenny reunion" video near the

bottom of the page at this link.

http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/archive.asp

The younger Jenny died a few months ago. The circus abuse caught up to her.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. Oh what a shame....

:cry: It must have taken a toll on Shirley...

[Submariner]

22. Shirley took it hard, but Bunny and Tarra took over caring for her

so they hang out together.

[Robeson]

17. Thanks for mentioning the Elephant Sanctuary, Submariner...

...I hope everyone visits their site, and helps. They've recently expanded their facilities, and are doing some good work...:thumbsup:

[InvisibleTouch]

18. Signed.

I'm not against performing animals, if positive training methods are used. Good trainers forge a bond between themselves and their animal students, and the animal has a task to perform and an accomplishment to master, as opposed to, say, sitting in a cage all day at the zoo and doing nothing. Many animals love to learn, and they love the interaction with their caretakers.

I'm most certainly against abusive training and handling methods. Not only is it reprehensible, but also completely unnecessary. Every species responds better to positive reinforcement than negative, including such a highly intelligent and aware species as the elephant.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Thank you for signing!

:yourock:

[Robeson]

24. Kick.

[flvegan]

25. If one goes to a circus that has animal acts, chances are, you are supporting animal cruelty.

There. I said it.

Don't get me started on the killing and poaching of elephants in their homelands. All in the name of entertainment.

Kickity kick!