Posted on 06/03/2006 4:01:38 PM PDT by CedarDave
The Asian elephants used in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus are at the heart of perhaps the most bitter animal-care fight around, one that's dragged through court for six years already and is inching toward a trial.
Its adversaries - a group including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Welfare Institute - argue vehemently that circus life is inherently cruel to the elephants.
They allege that the use of sharpened hooks by trainers, the routine use of chains, the separation of baby elephants from their mothers and other common circus practices add up to an egregious violation of the Endangered Species Act, which covers the Asian elephant and prohibits harm to it. The suit's goal is a court order halting these practices, which the activists believe would force Ringling to give up elephants altogether.
Ringling shows no signs of bowing to pressure, and has become more outspoken in defending itself since the first-of-its-kind suit was filed in 2000. "We train animals through reward, repetition and reinforcement - based on science," said former zookeeper Bruce Read, Ringling's vice president for animal stewardship. "Punishment is not used in the circus."
More generally, Read said circus life - including 50 weeks a year on the road - is not stressful to the elephants because the social groups around them, animal and human, are stable. He said young elephants aren't separated from their mothers until trainers are confident of their maturity.
"The Asian elephant has been semi-domesticated for centuries," said Read, citing its use in warfare, farming and various ceremonies. "Our circus brings them to areas where people don't see such animals very often. That's not something we should deprive our future generations of."
(Excerpt) Read more at lasvegassun.com ...
"Animals that are in more natural habitats, such as Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL are very well taken care of and children can see them live and very up close"
Of course the eco freaks are campaigning world wide to prohibit the keeping of elephants in facilities like Busch Gardens. Thats the next step.
"Its all part of the same effort to stamp us out for good. To santitize and control us."
Dont feel isolated. Their goal is to santitize and controll all of us.
I think America will really lose something if circuses and carnivals are forced out of business by the Animal/Safety Nazis. So much for live and let live. Best of luck to you Sir--I always respect people who strive to make the world a more interesting place (in a good way).
Maybe the circus can suggest to the crazies that if they can't use the elephants in the show they'll just have to kill them and eat them.
Oh for heavens' sake, will you please whine about something important and not attack the circus.
I don't agree with that...but there are ways to be respectful and humane with animals, yet not go to extremes.
There are a lot of things I have an opinion about...this is one of them. I don't like the circus, never have. Not every thing is life and death..yet may still be important.
For me , treating animals with respect and as humaely as possible is what compassioate human beings are responsible to do. I would want to pass these values on to our children also.
"but there are ways to be respectful and humane with animals, yet not go to extremes."
Sure there are, but as always the devil is in the details. Define extreme.
The eco/animal freaks insist that anything not natural is extreme. These folks want to return vast tracts of the world to "nature" and prohibit any human use of those areas.
Good one. Liberals. . .it's always all about them.
Right there is your problem Bud.
Call your sponser, You need to find a meeting.
What makes you feel we aren't teaching our kids to do that?
For crying out loud man, please call your sponsor.
? i didn't post those comments.
I was pinging you to my response. . . AAHHH Peace man.
dude... like peace...like totally man...
;)
Hmm, I wonder how they TASTE!
If the circus cannot keep them, feed em to the homeless.
People
Eating
Tasty
Animals
No...its not about me..its about caring about others, be they children that we want to raise with compassionate values and respect or animals that we want to treat humanely.
you think everyhting ought to be for YOUR entertainment and the rest be dam*ed...Now that IS all about YOU.
Once again...your emotions get in the way of your logic and rational arguing abilities.
All you can do when you get frustrated is focus on my Freeper name. then you get soooo frustrated, you get THAT wrong. The "recovery" is about moving from a hippie way of looking at politics (ie liberal) to a conservative way...taking the cue from David Horowitz.
Your sickness is showing. And I guess you just proved my previous points in my posts. Oh, yeah, you were just joking,right.
Strange how when someone posts something about treating animals humanely and with respect...all this reactionary anger comes out. All I really have to do is say" Let's treat animals compassionately" and you guys jump into action. Congratulations.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.