Mercy For Animals' new 60-second television commercial takes viewers behind the big top; giving a rarely seen glimpse of what life is really like for the animal "performers" imprisoned in the circus. The chilling ad, which hits the airwaves in Cincinnati just a week and half before the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus arrives at the US Bank Arena, contains shocking undercover footage of circus trainers viciously beating elephants with razor sharp bullhooks while yelling "Make' em Scream!" Viewers also see how elephants are shackled in chains in dark transport trucks and arena basements.

MFA wants potential circusgoers to know that although the Ringling Bros. public relations department has been working overtime to deceive the public into believing that animals in the circus are "treated like family," no amount of false propaganda can sanitize the circus’s horrific record of animal neglect. Ringling Bros. Circus has failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act. Ringling paid $20,000 to settle U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) charges of failing to provide veterinary care to a dying baby elephant. The USDA has also cited Ringling for failure to possess records of veterinary care, failure to provide animals with sufficient space, failure to provide animals with exercise, and endangering tigers who were nearly baked alive in a boxcar because of poor maintenance of their enclosures. In less than two years, two baby elephants died, a caged tiger was shot to death, a horse who was used despite a chronic medical condition died during Ringling’s traditional animal march, and a wild-caught sea lion was found dead in her transport container. Click here to view Ringling’s long history of animal abuse.

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In contrast to the glitter associated with circuses, performing animals' lives are pretty miserable. Because animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, or jump through rings of fire, whips, electric prods, and other tools are often used to force them to perform.

Tigers and lions, who would naturally secure a territory of 75 to 2,000 square miles, are usually forced to live and travel in cages only 4 feet by 6 feet by 5 feet. Early in their training, according to Henry Ringling North in his book The Circus Kings, the big cats are "chained to their pedestals, and ropes are put around their necks to choke them down. They work from fear." Bears may have their noses broken while being trained or have their paws burned to force them to stand on their hind legs.

Elephants, who in their natural environment would live in socially complex family herd, are chained by one or both front and hind legs during training sessions, transport, and often between shows. Trainers beat elephants with razor sharp bullhooks to force the animals to perform dangerous and confusing acts. Inadequate exercise and prolonged standing in wet, unsanitary conditions may lead to foot problems such as foot rot, and infected cuticles.

In sworn testimony, Tom Rider, a former Ringling Bros. elephant barn-keeper, stated:

“After my three years working with elephants in the circus, I can tell you that they live in confinement and they are beaten all the time when they don't perform properly.”

Other former Ringling Bros. employees have also spoken out against animal cruelty that occurred behind the scenes. Former Ringling performer Kelly Tansy has this to say:

“On my very first day with the circus, I witnessed animal cruelty. I saw an elephant being beaten in what appeared to be a disciplinary action. The beating was so severe that the elephant screamed. I have come to realize, through all the circuses that I have worked for, that mistreatment of animals is a standard part of training and is thought to be a ‘necessary’ part of exhibiting them.

I have seen chimps locked in small cages constantly when not performing; elephants chained continuously; and even animals being beaten during performances. You won't find these quotes in circus programs anymore, but one well-known elephant trainer stated in the 1978 Ringling program that, according to his father, ‘An elephant trainer must have a strong back, a weak mind, and a savage disposition.’"

What you can do

Boycott circuses that enslave animals. The exploitation and abuse of animals held captive in the circus will end only when compassionate individuals stop supporting them. Families seeking circus entertainment can still enjoy the many sights and sounds without supporting animal cruelty. The number of wonderful circuses that use only willing, paid human performers, such as Cirque du Soleil, Circus Oz, the New Pickle Circus, and Cirque d'Hiver are growing in both size and popularity. Click here for a complete list of animal-free circuses.

Educate others. Most people would not support the circus if they saw animal trainers beating elephants mercilessly with razor sharp bullhooks behind the scenes or knew that tigers were kept in cages only 4' x 5' for the majority of their lives. Talk to friends, family, and neighbors about the cruel treatment animals endure under the big top. Encourage them to join you in taking a stand against animal abuse