Dubbed “The Cruelest Show on Earth,” by animal rights activists, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus holds a long history of abusing animals. Through tortuous acts and barbaric treatment, the show has accumulated a negative reputation for their animal conduct.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited several dozen serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act since 2000, including improper handling of animals and failure to provide proper medical care.
Elephants, camels, lions and tigers have all been recorded as being mildly or seriously mistreated in the hands of Ringling employees.
Recently, the circus has announced that they plan to phase out elephant performances by 2018. This news comes as a relief to every person against The Ringling Bros.’ harsh conditions. But some have to ask the serious questions here. Why won’t the circus consider ending elephant abuse immediately? Why haven’t they decided to remove other animal performances that are just as mentally and physically draining?
In 1999, 4-year old baby elephant Benjamin drowned while trying to escape the trainer who was poking him with a bullhook. Benjamin had been removed from his mother too young, and therefore was never able to learn how to swim.
In 2004, 2-year old lion Clyde died of dehydration and heatstroke while traveling through the Mojave Desert in a poorly ventilated boxcar on a particularly hot day. The trainer failed to check on the animal or provide him with any water during the trip.
In 2011, after a 61-year old elephant was euthanized, concerns were raised about elephant handling practices. This particular elephant and more than a dozen others were chained to concrete floors for 16 hours a day.
These are just three of the countless recorded incidents of the abuse animals in the show endure. On a daily basis they are forced to perform difficult and confusing tasks, and if they fail to follow orders, they are exposed to harsh and completely unnecessary consequences.
The circus is supposed to be a place of fun and joy for the general public to gather. The performances are expected to be positive and make lasting, meaningful impressions in children’s minds. Instead, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus tortures and kills animals under inhumane circumstances.
And not only that, but many employees in the circus have been cited with criminal activity, such as possession of child pornography, sexual harassment, bank robbery and more.
These are the people handling the animals. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus hires criminals to “care” for these captured and tortured animals in cruel environments. Over two dozen investigations have found rotting animal food contaminated with rat feces and mold, which are supposed to be maintained by employees.
If the circus seriously decides to continue performances, they should thoroughly investigate their workers and the conditions in which they contain and care for the animals.
If they truly hope to do the right thing, The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus would shut down their show, admit the animals to care facilities or sanctuaries and discontinue their franchise of abuse. Animals have rights too.