For Immediate Release: November 29, 2004

Contacts: Mercy For Animals (937) 652-8258

DEATHS OF RINGLING ANIMALS SPUR PROTEST IN COLUMBUS

Parents, Kids Urged To Boycott Cruel Circus

Columbus, OH — In the wake of the recent deaths of a lion and an 8-month-old elephant used by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, members of the Ohio animal advocacy organization Mercy For Animals (MFA) will greet attendees of the circus, waving signs declaring, "Ringling Tortures Animals," and backed by a banner reading, "Abolish Animal Slavery, Boycott the Circus." An activist wearing an electronic "body screen" TV will show shocking undercover video footage of behind-the-scenes circus cruelty.

Date: Wednesday, December 1

Time: 6:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Location: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.

On August 5, Ringling destroyed an 8-month-old elephant named Riccardo after he suffered irreparable fractures to both hind legs when he fell off a circus pedestal. Riccardo was undersized when he was born to Ringling elephant, Shirley, who was also still a baby—just seven years old—at the time. Last month, a young, healthy, Ringling lion named Clyde died in a transport cage aboard a train crossing the Mojave Desert in 109°F heat. According to veteran Ringling employee and lion handler Frank Hagan, Ringling’s train master refused repeated requests to stop the train to water the lions during the scorching trip from Phoenix, Ariz., to Fresno, Calif.

In order to force wild animals to perform stressful and often painful acts, trainers use metal bullhooks, whips, muzzles, and electric prods. Shocking undercover video footage shows elephants being beaten with bullhooks by a circus trainer. The violent training methods shown in the video are commonly used in circuses, including Ringling, which is a chronic violator of the federal Animal Welfare Act and has an abysmal history of deaths of animals in its care.

U.S. government documents show that Ringling paid $20,000 to settle charges of failing to provide veterinary care to a dying baby elephant. In less than two years, two baby elephants died, a caged tiger was shot to death, a horse who was used in the circus despite a chronic medical condition died, 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."

Broadcast-quality footage of animals abused in circuses is available. For more information, please visit MercyForAnimals.org.