For Immediate Release: April 29, 2003

Contacts: Mercy For Animals (937) 652-8258

COLUMBUS RESIDENTS SPOTLIGHT CRUELTY UNDER THE BIG TOP

World’s Largest Circus Under Fire for History of Animal Abuse

Columbus, OH - The controversy that has been brewing for weeks over animal cruelty in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus continues as the infamous circus begins its performances at Nationwide Arena. Tomorrow, circus-goers will be confronted by members of the Ohio animal rights organization Mercy For Animals (MFA) holding signs that declare "Ringling Tortures Animals," and a banner reading "Abolish Animal Slavery, Boycott the Circus" while a mobile TV unit airs graphic, spine-chilling undercover footage of animal abuse under the big top.

Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2003

Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Nationwide Arena

Although the Ringling Bros. PR department has been working overtime to deceive the public into believing that animals imprisoned in the circus are "treated like family," no amount of false propaganda can sanitize the circus’ horrific record of animal care. 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.

"The circus deprives animals of their basic needs to exercise, roam, socialize, forage, and play," says MFA Director Nathan Runkle. "They are denied their precious freedoms for a few cheap tricks. Abolishing animal slavery is as easy as boycotting animal circuses."