‘Elephant’ Made of 100 People to Protest Feds’ Failure to Help Animals in Circuses

PETA Supporters Point to Vet Reports, Eyewitnesses, Complaints of Circuses Hauling Arthritic, Lame Elephants Around the Country

For Immediate Release:
November 17, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

The bird’s-eye view of the U.S. Capitol has never looked like this. On Tuesday, more than 100 PETA supporters from across the U.S. will dress all in gray and lie down together in the shape of a life-size elephant. It’s all to protest the government’s failure to protect captive elephants in the U.S.

When:   Tuesday, November 18, 12 p.m.

Where:  U.S. Capitol Building, on the west lawn directly between the Capitol Building and First Street N.W., Washington

PETA has notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that elephants with debilitating, painful, and life-threatening lameness and arthritis—one of the leading reasons why captive elephants are euthanized—are forced to travel around the country and perform, a violation of the Animal Welfare Act. But the USDA has failed to stop Ringling Bros. from exhibiting lame elephants, such as Karen and Nicole, or to stop notorious elephant-ride provider Hugo Liebel from dragging the lame elephant Nosey to fairs and other venues around the country. Tuesday’s protesters will include a wildlife veterinarian who has seen Nosey’s suffering firsthand as well as an elephant expert, each of whom can attest to captive elephant suffering.

“The federal Animal Welfare Act calls for action by U.S. authorities, who have repeatedly ignored captive elephants’ life-threatening suffering,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “PETA’s motto reads, in part, that ‘animals are not ours to use for entertainment,’ and we’re calling on officials to stop abusive businesses, such as Ringling Bros., from dragging ailing elephants to performances around the country.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org.