Breaking News! Ringling trial verdict: No vindication for cruel circus’ treatment of elephants.
December 31st, 2009 | 
Author:
The Reality for Circus Elephants – Photo Credit: Born Free USA
Yesterday, in the case of ASPCA et al. v. Feld Entertainment/Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Judge Emmett Sullivan ruled against the advocates for elephants on technical grounds – concluding that plaintiffs Tom Rider and the Animal Protection Institute (API) had not established the standing required for bringing a lawsuit in federal court. The case was dismissed on a legal technicality; the judge never addressed the merits of the case or the claim that the circus’ routine beating and chaining of elephants violates the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
We will have more to say about this monumental legal case as we analyze and digest the judge’s 57-page decision, but we reiterate that this ruling is by no means an endorsement of Ringling’s treatment of their elephants, or even a finding that the elephants are treated humanely or appropriately.
Ringling will no doubt try to spin the decision as a victory for the circus, but it is not a vindication of their brutal training and management practices. In fact, the record established by this trial documents Ringling’s routine abuse of elephants, as Ringling employees and even CEO Kenneth Feld acknowledged under oath and in sworn documentation that:
- the elephants are routinely hit with bullhooks,
- they are regularly chained in box cars for more than 26 hours at a time and for as long as 100 hours without a break while traveling across the country for 11 months of the year, and for as much as 22½ hours each day in Ringling’s breeding center,
- baby elephants are forcibly separated from their mothers for training at age two or younger.
The trial record will stand as a stunning indictment of this circus and its archaic elephant acts, though we will have to wait a bit longer for legal redress.
IDA and all elephant advocates owe a huge debt of gratitude to the attorneys, organizations and individuals behind this lawsuit, including lead Plaintiff Tom Rider, the former Ringling employee who made the legal action possible. We are disappointed that there was no decision on Ringling’s treatment of its elephants, but you can be sure we will continue the fight until there are no more elephants performing in circuses anywhere.
This blog was contributed by Deborah Robinson, IDA’s Captive Elephant Specialist.
Posted in Animals in Entertainment, Elephants, Wildlife | 
Tags: Circus, Endangered Species, Environment, Legal, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey
17 Responses to “Breaking News! Ringling trial verdict: No vindication for cruel circus’ treatment of elephants.”
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I haven’t had the time to read all of the responses, so in case i am repeating sth already said forgive me. I just wanted to say that i completely agree with joan ilott (1st comment). What we need is MORE CELEBRITIES. People these days only care about gossip so it seems. We need people like LADY GAGA, ANGELINA JOLIE, JONAS BROTHERS, MILEY CYRIS (you get me, people who are HUGE today) to just speak up, and to publically condemn all these “circuses”, as well as saying that fur is NOT COOL or beautiful. Everytime I see that airhead Anna Winthour (or however its spelled) saying “I LOVE FUR” i get so angry. She is someone who’s opinion is valued even by celebrities, so why can’t someone equally powerful such as LAdy Gaga just say that fur or any other related animal product or show that involves violence (direct or indirect) against animals is nothing but CRAP!!?!!?
Come on it’s 2010, don’t be acting like fu732ng neanderthals!!
Anyway, just saying… I have opened my own company in Peru and i CAN’T WAIT no make some good profit to donate to animal charities or open shelters for abandoned dogs (very big problem in Peru)
… as i said…just saying!
Take care animal lovers WE WILL BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISORY!
Carla
Really exciting thoughts, I wished I could have believed of that. terrific
[...] and admitted hundreds of documents, the court never reached the merits of the case. Although testimony from Ringling executives revealed that the circus’s elephants are routinely hit with bullhooks–a training [...]
ack, just realized that in my first paragraph in that last post i forgot to say that the ele’s killed axel, their trainer/torturer…kenneth feld is unfortunely still standing.
my brain is way too fast for how slow i type.
apologies.
please pray that kathy meyer has the strength, and ability, to appeal.
the reason i, ex ringling performer, was unable testify was b/c kenneth (satan) feld got his wish to not allow anything before 194….odd b/c in ’93 the ele’s had enough and offed him.
i believe that i can supply new, and valid, evidense if this ruling can be appealed.
“my ele” sophie, 1981-83, and i were incredibly close….she was 12 and i was 22 and both a little rebellious lol.
she, axel (the trainer), and i went through some sh** during my stay. he beat sophie to the ground one day….i grabbed his bullhook, he grabbed his gun, sophie almost got him that day for trying to hurt me.
it wasn’t easy staying so long in a place like ringling but i couldn’t leave the elephants….they didn’t have many friends and we needed eash other.
sophie is dying in a zoo….severe arthritis, herpes of her heart….i could go on but, enough said.
she is only 40 years old as is babe, another ringling reject who was given to the zoo after they were to sick to perform any longer.
ok, back to the new evidence part…..
maybe if i was allowed to see sophie today, or very soon (she is dying from arthritis and herpes of her heart so there isn’t long).
the zookeeper where she is and to whom i refer to as hitler incarnate, will not allow me access to her…..many universities, researchers, activists, have tried going on 3 years now….
why? could it possibly be b/c he gets ringling’s broken down throw aways??????????
is there anyone out there with the power to get me in to see my girl….she may do something that shows another reason these creatures should NOT be allowed in circuses…or most zoos.
i used to sing to her and all 18 ele’s during the night when axel wasn’t around.
it could also go hand in hand with the researchers learning the elephants have a very distinct and intelligent language.
i’ve known that since first knowing them but in the circus they needed to learn yet another way of communicating to eash other b/c any movement at all was considered “aggressive behavior that might get them beat.
maybe, if sophie reacted to me and “our songs” from so long ago….she could help all the other ele’s by teaching people how smart they are and how deeply they love.
isn’t it worth a shot??????????
i need help….feld cannot keep killing and maming animals.
also, for my sanity, i really need to tell sophie that she was always loved and never forgotten.
if you can help. please write tinydancerwv@aol.com
and please…only write if you can honestly help.
blessings, jodey eliseo
Hello. Appreciate your site. I visit it regularly to read the most recent stuff. Extremely useful post.
I cannot understand how a person can grow into adulthood, without gaining the compassion that I have in my heart. What happened in their life to keep them from the full emotional growth that God hoped for us all.
To say that I am terribly disappointed would be a huge understatement. but if murderers and child abusers can get off on a technicality, then why wouldn’t animals abusers too. Such a shame. But we must not give up. and I too would like to give a big thank you to the attorneys, organizations and individuals behind this lawsuit, including lead Plaintiff Tom Rider. We need to keep the pressure on, and keep spreading the word about the monsters that operate these circuses.
TERRIBLY SAD! We cannot really trust in the justice.
It’s a sad day for the elephants. I really wish the verdict had banned all elephants from being used in circuses. The good thing is that more of Ringling’s abusive practices have become public. The Today Show did a story about it. I hope the elephants will have another day in court and Ringling will be banned from using animals in their circuses.
Yet again, I am sickened and deeply saddened to learn that Judge Emmitt Sullivan ruled against the advocates for the elephants. I truly wonder about the competency of this judge? With all the overwhelming evidence of cruelty and neglect how could he possibly rule in favor of Ringling? What a joke! All I can say is that this just seals the deal for me. I’ve lost ALL faith in our justice system when it comes to animal rights and animal welfare. Thanks for nothing Judge Sullivan.
As disappointing and painful as the verdict is, I can’t say I’m surprised. This isn’t the type of change that will come from the top down. We are the ones who can and will help the elephants. Every one of us who writes a blog post or a letter to the USDA, our local newspaper, or local government protesting the treatment of elephants takes one more step in the right direction. Every one of us who protests when the circus comes to town, every one of us who gathers evidence of mistreatment and puts it into the hands of someone who can help, even everyone who simply talks to their friends and helps another person to understand what really happens to elephants in the entertainment industry takes a step toward the end of the cruel mistreatment. The court will not end cruel treatment of elephants by the circus. We will end it when people no longer flock to the big top to watch the product of that abuse. Everything that has fallen by the wayside and been lost to history has done so when people are no longer interested in it enough to make it profitable.
How can a human have no compassion at all for animals?
I’ve watched, through tears, some videos of elephant abuse. Ridiculous cruelty. // IDA – keep fighting. You’re one of the BEST organizations for animals, & I’m a member.
Unbelievable, Its not over tho. We will continue to fight for the oppressed. We will end animal slavery I personally pledge to be at every circus that comes to my part of my country. I will be a thorn in their side. Our politicians will get it. They will listen damn it. I am outraged and angered sad and dismayed. But I will not give up. The monsters must go!!!!
Call the Judge, if enough people call it may be at the least an annoyance….dam these people, the feelings are so opposite sadness and anger at once…I don’t understand this world we live in.
I am hoping that this will fuel activist’s compassion for the animals and the anger for their abusers and cause them to become MORE active against all animal circuses.
Terribly sad. I can barely see what I’m typing through the tears in my eyes. It makes me so angry! The one thing these neandathals understand is profit. Keep up the pressure. These outdated forms of ‘amusement’ will loose popularity and it will hit the in the pocket. Can you enlist the help of celebrities (such as Pamela Anderson) to help discredit these vile people?