Run, Kelly, Run! Elephant Makes a Bid for Freedom
Early this morning, Kelly, an elephant from Carson & Barnes Circus who’s forced to perform at Circus World in Baraboo, Wisconsin, escaped from her confines and was found wandering through a nearby residential neighborhood.
This isn’t the first time that an elephant has tried to flee from a life in chains, and if Carson & Barnes’ record of elephant escapes is any indication, it won’t be the last.
Last year, Carson & Barnes was ordered to pay a $16,000 fine to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the circus allowed three elephants to run amok for 45 minutes at a performance. The animals reportedly became stressed after circus performers asked the approximately 8,000 audience members to create loud noises by, among other things, stomping on the metal bleachers.
Not only has Carson & Barnes racked up dozens of violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act for neglecting and abusing elephants and endangering the public, its head trainer was also caught on tape attacking elephants with a steel-tipped bullhook and electroshocking them.
As the demise of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shows, it’s just a matter of time before all animals are free from the circus. Until then, the best way that you and your family can make a difference is by refusing to buy a ticket to any circus that uses animals.
