Wounded ‘Elephant’ to D.C. Schoolchildren: Circuses Hurt Animals

Costumed PETA Supporters Will Hand Out Activity Books Documenting Ringling’s Abusive Training of Baby Elephants

For Immediate Release:
February 26, 2015

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

A very cute “elephant” with a “bloody” bandage wrapped around her head will greet students as they leave Bruce-Monroe Elementary School at Park View tomorrow afternoon. The elephant will hand out activity booklets and explain to kids and their parents that elephants used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—which will perform in Washington, D.C., next month—are hit with a metal-tipped stick to make them perform tricks that are difficult, confusing, and sometimes painful for them.

Where:           Bruce-Monroe Elementary School at Park View, 3560 Warder St. N.W. (at the intersection of Warder Street N.W. and Newton Place N.W.), Washington, D.C.

When:             Thursday, February 26, 3 p.m.

“Most children would run away from the circus if they knew Ringling’s history of making lame elephants perform tricks,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “PETA is calling on parents—and anyone who cares about animals—to steer clear of circuses that abuse wonderful animals.”

PETA, whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment,” will share compelling photos with parents, which were taken from inside Ringling’s training center and expose how baby elephants used by Ringling are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with bullhooks (weapons that resemble fireplace pokers with a sharp hook on one end), and shocked with electric prods. The circus was also recently caught denying veterinary care to three suffering elephants—and possibly leaving them locked inside boxcars—for as long as four days at a time while on the road.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.