entertainment

Ringling elephants to say goodbye to the circus

15 Comments

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The PETA you don't know would outlaw fishing, circuses, dog shows, horseback riding and zoos. They even oppose using service animals like eye-dogs for the blind. In PETA, there's no room for Kentucky Fried Chicken, or the Kentucky Derby. See you, Shamu! And pets are forbidden in PETA's world too. That's right! No pets. Hey all you pet lovers who donate to PETA, feel like a sucker yet?

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Why is the word cruelty in quotation marks? If you have heard what they do to their animals to train them, then you would know there is no question that Ringling Bros has had a long history of animal abuse and cruelty. But I'm not going to applaud them for finally changing their mind. At the end of the day, it's all about money. They've realized that they are selling less tickets to their shows since people are now more aware and more caring of how the animals are treated. I doubt circuses have any concern at all for the welfare of their animals, other than making sure they live long enough to see the next show.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Can't remember where I "heard" ? "read" ? it, but it reminds me of a story about a captured elephant literally crying real tears and Rudyard Kipling going over to comfort it, speaking in an Indian dialect that the elephant understood.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Great news. Animal abuse is rife in circuses, zoos and aquariums.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

A welcomed step.

Animals performing to the oohs, aahs & laughs of a paying public are of a bygone era.

Whether it's dolphins jumping in santa costumes, chimps cooking eggs or elephants balancing on 2 legs - it's time for humans to have a refreshed perspective on the role of animals , esp wild, in the 21stC.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

The only good thing about PETA are the ads of nude celebrities who prefer not to wear fur but go naked. I prefer them not to wear fur either....

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The first and only elephant I ever encountered was a member of this troupe. It was October 1955, and the "Greatest Show on Earth" was performing in Madison Square Garden in New York City. My aunt gave me some peanuts, which I nervously held out in the palm of my hand. The elephant's trunk sucked them off like a vacuum cleaner. I was impressed. Should I now feel guilt for having been complicit in the elephant's indentured servitude? As far as I could tell, he seemed happy to get the peanuts.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

If this was done to support the conservation of elephants, I support it.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Unfortunately too many people believe the misleading information about circuses presented by certain animal special interest groups. Circuses have been important partners in developing captive breeding programs, veterinary research projects and behavioral understanding of many exotic and endangered species. Without the valuable information and cooperation that many circuses have with conservation initiatives, many of these species would have been lost to history. Hence without circuses, families would rarely be able to see exotic animals up-close and witness the beauty of these animals acts as ambassadors by educating the masses about their intellect, agility, strength, and personality.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Novenchama - "...by educating the masses about their intellect, agility, strength and personality"

Does that include bears riding bicycles, lions jumping through hoops of fire, monkeys dressed up like chaplin, seals playing balance ball etc, etc, etc?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

brownyl:

You know circuses have to show their stuff so it's also about profitable showmanship. After all it is a business.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" are only interested in ethically treating animals that aren't Homo Sapiens. They're exclusionary and therefore a fraud. Where they're the most ludicrous is how they insist on applying Homo Sapiens "ethics" to every species EXCEPT Homo Sapiens.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Peta & many many other so called "Rights Groups"are Strictly in this for Profit! They & others run slick ad campaigns 24/7 on All the T.V. stations,tugging at the heartstrings(& wallets) of the gullible .& thats how the $$ machine is churned, Ad Nauseum!!! We want Elephants to Remain as an act & further we want the Horse-drawn Carriages to remain along Central Park So. in N.Y.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

We want Elephants to Remain as an act

Who is 'we'?

I'm happy to see wild animals banned from the 'entertainment' world. A dog dancing with his owner and clearly enjoying himself is one thing; an elephant, lion, tiger or other exotic wild animal being subjected to cruel practices to force it to 'perform' is quite another.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

A great step in the right direction. Now let's work on getting those big cats out of the business.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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