Have A Heart: No Baby Elephants in Circuses
February 12th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Val and Frisco
Nothing is more heartless than tearing a wailing baby elephant away from his or her mother for the sole purpose of “entertainment.” But that’s what happens in circuses, where still-nursing calves less than two years old are violently separated from their mothers, subjected to cruel training, and sentenced to a lifetime of misery.
Despite mountains of evidence showing that circus life is inherently cruel for elephants of any age, circuses continue to deprive these highly intelligent and sensitive animals of all that is important to them: family, room to roam, freedom of choice, and a rich and complex natural environment.
Worst of all for the babies may be the separation from their mothers. Photos released last year taken by a former Ringling Bros. trainer show how young calves are tethered or chained and literally dragged away from their mothers at an age when they still should be enjoying their mother’s coddling and protection. The calves are then subjected to abusive training meant to break their spirits and ensure complete submission to their handlers. For the rest of their lives, they will live in fear of pain and punishment and spend endless hours on chains as they are shipped around the country to perform inane tricks at the point of a bullhook.
IDA has been focusing its efforts on ending the use of all elephants in circuses, but the vulnerability of baby elephants makes their plight urgent. As these young animals are highly susceptible to injury, disease and death due to the crushing stress of circus life, we’re making a special appeal on their behalf.
To read more on how you can help, please see our Valentine’s Day appeal for baby elephants. Then take action to help stop the suffering of elephant calves in circuses.
Posted in Animals in Entertainment, Elephants | 
Tags: Circus, Elephants, Exotic Animals, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey
14 Responses to “Have A Heart: No Baby Elephants in Circuses”
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I have been protesting circuses since i was in the 7th grade the cruelty and inhumane treatment of any and all animals is WRONG!!! If we all bamd together we can stop this!!!
Elephants don’t have to suffer in circuses in order to amuse people. You SHOULD be more sensitive and kind.
Hello;
the worst thing is the Breeding of Elephants; this is outrageous;
if elephants are to be breed at all;
only the smaller sized species should be bred; Elephants are highly abused;
I would say some smaller animals might be ok for ciruces like Horses;Monkeys;
this would atleast give the Monkeys and Horses some type of employment…
i’m a freshman student researching for a paper on circus animal abuse and i don’t understand that if i’m a freshman and i know this is wrong, then how do grown men beat these animals and participate in the abuse and find it “okay” ITS NOT IT”S WRONG AND ANIMALS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED IN CIRCUSES
Please stop abusing these beautiful animals. Nature is kind to you, be kind to nature.
les éléphants sont faits pour vivre en famille et en liberté pour couvrir plusieurs kilomètres par jour dans la nature, le soleil, le vent ou la pluie.
Nous devons apprendre à nos enfants le respect de la liberté des animaux exactement comme leur propre liberté. leur apprendre qu’ils sont assez grands pour refuser de cautionner la souffrance des animaux en allant dans les cirques pour les voir. Non seulement ils ne doivent pas y aller mais ils doivent aussi tenter de convaincre leurs camarades en donnant les arguments qu’ils connaissent, à savoir : respect de l’autre, pas d’esclavagisme d’une race c’est dire non aussi au racisme. Les aimer et les admirer dans leur site naturel ou de leur environnement naturel reconstitué. Sans ces conditions, l’animal qu’ils voient n’est pas l’animal vrai mais une supercherie organisée par l’homme.
Bravo. Let’s not forget about Billy the elephant in the Los Angeles Zoo. He’s still languishing, and they have plans to bring more for a captive breeding program. All while the city goes bankrupt. Check out my blog about it: http://www.femalefyimag.com
Elephants are very intelligent and affectionate animals. How anyone could be ok with taking baby elephants away from their mothers and physically and mentally abusing them in order to perform tricks for the circus is beyond me. These people should be ashamed of themselves. Circuses that use elephants or any other animals should be banned as they have in a few other countries.
Me gustaria y asi se lo pido a Dios que eliminen de los circos los espectaculos con animales!!!!!!!!!!!!
circus berserkus by karen lyons kalmenson
the circus is in town, what do you see?
as i look out at you, and you look in at me
do you see me as a large, roaring captive toy,
or do you look into my eyes, just know pain, no joy.
do you giggle and point as you mill around my cage,
in my terror annoint as i seethe in rage.
do you not understand that my roar is a shout:
open up the cage door and let me out
Hi,
I am from Germany. I wrote a letter to the adresses you gave me on facebook.
I tried my best, but my english is not perfect, on the other side: in my broken english it is a very personal letter.
Hope we can cange things.
Bye
Evi
STOP ANIMAL CRUELT AND ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DEBORAH KAY STEINKEN
Circuses with performing animals must be outlawed. People shoulod NOT patronize circuses.
Animals are not things or objects!
If you want make a show, put a red nose a be the clown!