Suffering Elephant’s Planned Appearance at Fair Prompts PETA Action

The Great Lakes Medieval Faire Is Scheduled to Host Circus, Despite Shackling and Abuse of Nosey the Elephant

For Immediate Release:
June 28, 2017

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

This morning, PETA fired off a letter to The Great Lakes Medieval Faire urging it to strike Hugo Liebel’s Great American Family Circus from its upcoming lineup since he will likely once again bring Nosey, an elephant he has exploited for years and who an expert believes is suffering from arthritis—a painful condition that is one of the leading reasons that captive elephants are euthanized. PETA is calling on the fair to commit to allowing only animal-free entertainment.

“Today’s public is against the suffering of elephants like Nosey who are hauled across the country in hot and cramped trailers, deprived of companionship, and forced to give rides for hours, all so that humans can have some five minutes of novelty,” says PETA Foundation Associate Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Rachel Mathews. “PETA is calling on The Great Lakes Medieval Faire to step into this time period when it comes to animal welfare and shun this medieval treatment of animals rather than supporting it.”

Liebel’s extensive history of mistreating Nosey includes nearly 200 citations for federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations, including for chaining her so tightly that she could barely move, withholding food from her, and repeatedly denying her adequate veterinary care for a chronic skin condition. Eyewitness video footage in 2016 shows her standing alone in a hot parking lot, confined to a cramped, electrified enclosure without shade, food, or water. And although she previously attacked one of Liebel’s employees, hitting him with her tusk and lifting him off his feet, Liebel continues to allow dangerous public contact with her.

PETA has worked with elephant experts, engaged members of Congress, and gathered celebrity support in favor of Nosey’s release to an accredited sanctuary.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.