Circus Elephants: Abused or Amused?

The Plight of Circus Elephants: Are they abused or loved?

 

Elephants have long been trained since 2000 BC for various uses, including logging, transport, and entertainment. In fact, captive elephants in the United States started out in circuses. In the contemporary world, there is a growing issue of whether elephants should be kept in circuses or not. In this blog post, I will focus on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, dubbed "The Greatest Show on Earth". Ringling Bros. owns 47 Asian elephants, the largest herd and Asian elephant gene pool in the United States. Sorry if I'm biased, but I love talking about elephants.This blog post will explore whether elephants should be in circuses or not.

 

A brief history of circus elephants:

Elephants have been in circuses for the last three hundred years and been trained for centuries in Thailand, India, and Burma. The first elephants brought to the United States were mainly used as spectacles, massive gentle giant exhibitions. Circuses capitalized on the elephant craze, transporting elephants by the hundreds. However, due to a lack of knowledge of elephant behavior and physiology, elephants died quickly in circuses. Circuses desperately tried to breed elephants to gain money. Elephant birth rates were mediocre at best and circuses abandoned most attempts to breed their elephants, relying on importing more elephants. However, two things were discovered during the elephant age of circuses. For one, African elephants, while certainly larger than Asian elephants, were harder to train and more unstable. Also, bull elephants were found to go into musth, a period of extreme testosterone that made even the most docile elephants into murderous rampaging beasts. Zoos quietly began to phase out African and bull elephants. The majority of elephants that circus viewers see today are Asian female (they are the most easily trained and compliant) and juvenile males who have not reached sexual maturity.

 

 

Ringling Bros. Elephants:

The circus giant owns 47 Asian elephants as of 2014, the largest of any animal owner in the United States. The circus claims that the best care is given to the animals' health and welfare. The circus believes that promoting human-animal interaction is vital to increasing public awareness of the need to protect and preserve animal species. They state, "Captive animals play an important role as Ambassadors — teaching people about the animals' needs and challenges and about our responsibility to ensure their future survival." CEO Ken Feld of Feld Entertainment, who owns Ringling as well as Disney on Ice, Disney Live!, and  Monster Jam states that they meet all requirements for zoos and circuses for animal welfare. The circus has been a source of controversy since the release of a video that showed employees "breaking in" an elephant. Here is the new about Ringling Bros. circus elephants.

In a statement by Janice Aria, the director of animal stewardship with Ringling Bros., she claims that

"Our animals are inspected by animal welfare officials in nearly every city we visit, including New York City. We are also routinely inspected and are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/elephant-bullhook-guide-safe-ringling-bros-big-article-1.1620674#ixzz2uNBgfkMo

 

 

Aria then goes on to state that the elephant guide (also known as a bullhook) is a safe and widely used tool. Certainly widely used, but undercover PETA videos show Ringling Bros. elephant trainers abusing their elephants with the metal rods. There is a plethora of abuse videos and websites that are aimed to taking elephants out of circuses. Many local politicians have petitioned to have their cities ban the use of the bullhook. The circus has been on the defense for years by animal rights groups. The circus doesn't have much going for them on the surface, with videos, documents, and pictures of elephants being chained, gouged, beaten, and given inadequate care by circus employees. However, all is not what it seems.

 

The circus does have some advantages on its sides. As a $1 billion company, they wield enormous influence and power, and approximately 30 million people view a Feld entertainment show annually. The circus giant recently won $9.3 million from the ASPCA lawsuit, a lawsuit that involved Ringling abusing their animals. It was discovered that the animal welfare group had paid off the former elephant handler to testify in its case. It is hard to believe that Ringling Bros. is an evil company destined to control and beat generations of elephants. It's quite expensive to maintain elephants, about $60-100,000 a month. Ringling opened its Center for Elephant Conservation in 1995, aiming to promote elephant breeding and conservation. The center has been labeled as a mere place to churn out elephants for the circus, but the circus claims that only a third of the elephants born at the CEC are fit for entertainment. The center has had 26 births since its opening, a rare feat when one considers that the elephant gestation period is 22 months.

 

Bryan's Opinion: This is an ongoing issue that is not easily remedied. On one hand, I like the circus. And also, if the circus had truly been abusing elephants, the USDA (Department of Agriculture) would've most likely shut down elephant care. The circus knows that if true abuse had been going on, public outrage would've been infinite and elephants are expensive and rare. The penalty for killing or even injuring a performing elephant would be severe for elephant trainers. It's hard to believe that the circus abuses its elephants, otherwise injuries and deaths for elephant trainers would be more common. On the other hand, there is much evidence against Ringling for its treatment of elephants. Statements released by the circus giant skate over the treatment of the elephants and focus on the positive things that Ringling does for its elephants. I believe that circus elephants could potentially continue, but it would be best to abandon bullhooks and to stop traveling long hours in chains. If the circus could improve its care for its elephants, then it would be fine for me. But if they continue to ignore the abuse for their behemoth money-makers, then it would be a great idea to get rid of elephants in the circus.

 

For Feld Entertainment CEO  and owner of Ringling Bros. circus Ken Feld's view on elephants, look below:

 

http://sarasotamagazine.com/blog/2013/12/02/glimpse-inside-entertainments/

 

For animal rights groups views on circus elephant, look below:

 

http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/

 



Smithsonian National Zoo: An analysis

Smithsonian National Zoo: An In-depth Perspective of the nation's zoological park

The National Zoo is in Washington, D.C. and hailed as one of the nation's premier zoos. They are one of the four zoos that house giant pandas and hosts approximately 2.7 million visitors annually, making it the sixth most visited AZA facility in the United States.  Unknown to many visitors and guests, the zoo has gone under controversy for its poor methods, funding, and staff. Still, the zoo leads in many scientific research techniques and breeding programs. This post will attempt to analyze what the National Zoo is all about. Here is the good, the bad, and the future of the National Zoo.

 

The Good:

1. Free Admission

That's right, free. The zoo charges no admission to its millions of visitors as it is part of the Smithsonian Institution and receives funding from the government. This sends the message that the zoo is not interested in making a profit. However, this is a mixed blessing for the zoo as the zoo relies entirely on government funding to maintain its vast animal collection. If the government cuts the budget or shuts down the government, the zoo is relatively helpless.

 

2. Elephant Trails: A Campaign to Save Asian Elephants
 

Elephant Trails: A Campaign to Save Asian Elephants is a comprehensive breeding, education, and scientific research program. It is designed to help scientists care for elephants in zoos and save them in the wild. The zoo will house seven Asian elephants by the spring of 2014. The zoo spent $52 million on the renovation, committing the zoo to elephant conservation.

 

3. Giant Pandas

Considered to be the most profitable animals of all zoo exhibits, the giant pandas serve to draw crowds from around the country and the world. The zoo spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to help giant panda conservation and research. The zoo also contributed to the giant panda breeding program, in which a giant panda baby was born in 2013.

 

4. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

The National Zoo runs a non-public breeding and scientific research facility in Fort Worth, Virginia. The 3,200 acre complex is dedicated to breeding programs, reintroduction programs, and scientific research and observations. Some notable animals housed in the SCBI are clouded leopards, Eld's deer, red pandas, and tree kangaroos. The Institute has been very successful in its breeding programs and regularly helps breeding populations.

 

5. AZA accreditation

AZA stands for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the most prestigious zoo organization in America. AZA accreditation means that the zoo has met or exceeded the requirements of running a good zoo. Less than 10% of all facilities that hold animals are accredited by the AZA.

 

The Bad:

1. Unnecessary Deaths

The zoo has long been under controversy for unnecessary deaths of its animals. In July 2003, a predator managed to enter an exhibit and kill a bald eagle. Also in 2003, red pandas died after eating rat poison that had been buried in their yard by a pest control contractor. Two years later, a macaque was crushed by hydraulic doors by staff error. The zoo recently came under controversy again when a dama gazelle broke its neck, a pregnant kudu killed itself after a zebra attacked a keeper, and a red river hog died of infection. A Przewalski's horse colt also died at the SCBI in the last few months.

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2. Euthanized Animals

In January 2006, the National Zoo euthanized an Asian elephant named "Toni" after a long time suffering from arthritis and poor body condition. Animal rights groups leveled the accusation that inadequate care over her lifespan in captivity led to the conditions that ultimately led to her death. Only four days ago, a male cheetah was euthanized.

 

3. Provisional AZA accreditation

In 2009, the zoo was operating under provisional accreditation due to reports of inadequate animal care resulting in animal deaths. Errors in care, management and communications were found after a panel conducted an external investigation, including instances where veterinarians significantly altered legal medical records weeks and even years after events occurred. The zoo has since regained its AZA accreditation.

 

4. Budget Shortcomings

The zoo blames budget cuts for the inadequate care of animals. When the government shut down, the zoo was forced to close and staff worked without pay. The current director of the National Zoo told the press that recent issues with exotic animals had happened due to the zoo's resources being stretched too thin. The zoo complains that there is not enough staff or capital to fund the zoo's enormous collection or maintain the zoo. A zebra attacked a keeper in December 2013, with a vulture also escaping its enclosure. A clouded leopard also managed to escape. A wallaby that was forced to share its exhibit with two hornbills bloodied its nose in the process.

 

5. Resignation of Dr. Lucy Spelman

The director of the National Zoo, Lucy Spelman, resigned at the end of 2009. As a veterinarian, it was revealed that Spelman had treated several animals who had died. The source of information; however, was taken from a disgruntled former employee. The problems at the zoo, which coincided with Dr. Spelman's resignation, included facilities and budget shortcomings, although the animal care problems were prominently highlighted. Dr. Suzan Murray continues to serve as the zoo's head veterinarian. One other veterinarian featured frequently in the inadequate care of animals at the zoo also remains on staff, but the zoo has added a new head pathologist and has added other veterinarians.

 

Future of the zoo:

Under the Smithsonian Institution, the zoo will most likely continue to grow and thrive. The zoo will receive three new elephants from the Calgary zoo in the spring of 2014. A giant panda baby continues to push visitors through the open gate. Children laugh and play. Visitors marvel at the sea lions, watch in awe at the gorilla family, and smile at the newborn lion cubs. The zoo is still a subject of controversy, but working tremendously hard to regain an image of one of the best zoo's in the U.S.

 

Bryan's Notes: When I visited the zoo, I was awed of how big the zoo was. The raven exhibit that housed two ravens was as big as a house. The zoo covers 163 acres, giving plenty of space for each animals. The elephants have 1.9 acres of outdoor space. I was especially impressed with the Elephant Trails exhibit, but also fascinated by the Think Tank where they tested orangutan intelligence. My favorite part was the O-line, a system of towers and cables that allows the  orangutans to move between the two buildings. In talking to one of the zoo's staff members, I was shocked to hear that she had to volunteer for two years just to achieve her position (she worked as a gorilla keeper). And she would not be paid during the government shutdown (although she would continue to work). The zoo has worked hard to replace and maintain their staff and is working extra hard to bring the zoo back into a good spotlight. I do hope they can achieve it.