Beating, confinement, chaining, emotional distress - the evidence of elephant suffering in circuses is overwhelming...

 "It's kind of like a conductor leading an orchestra"

- AZA Elephant Group Head Mike Keele, on using a bullhook

So why is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) elephant group leader defending the treatment of elephants by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus?

Tell the AZA to sever all ties with circus elephant cruelty

September 16, 2009

AZA'S COZY RELATIONSHIP WITH CIRCUSES

Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence of cruelty to elephants and other animals, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) maintains close ties with circuses. In doing so, zoos give credibility to the circus and help perpetuate the abuse and suffering inherent to the use of elephants in entertainment.

IDA CONFRONTS THE AZA

While the AZA holds its annual conference in Portland this week, IDA is there to pressure this trade association to sever all ties with the circus industry. Our activities include running a hard-hitting ad

IDA is also seeking censure of Oregon Zoo acting director Mike Keele, head of the AZA's Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and acting director of the Oregon Zoo. In a complaint to the AZA Ethics Committee, IDA detailed Keele's self-serving and disturbingly close relationship with the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus.

KEELE TESTIFIES AS EXPERT FOR RINGLING CIRCUS

In March 2009, Keele testified as a $125-per-hour expert witness for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at a trial in the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. That complaint accused the circus of violating the Endangered Species Act by harming endangered Asian elephants through routine and abusive elephant handling practices. By appearing as an expert for the circus, Keele gave a tacit seal of approval to Ringling's unconscionable practices that were documented through mountains of evidence presented at trial. These include:

• Chaining elephants at the Ringling Center for Elephant Conservation for 16 to 22 hours per day;
• Using chains and ropes to tear babies away from their mothers at age two or younger (before they are weaned) to begin their training for the circus;
• Training baby elephants by breaking their spirits through maternal separation, prolonged restraint (tying up their legs), isolation from other elephants and hitting with bullhooks. (One 2-year-old baby elephant, Aria, was chained nonstop for four months and only let off chains for 40 minutes a day to be trained);
• Striking the elephants with bullhooks, the steel-tipped rods used to hit, stab and hook elephants into compliance. Ringling head Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment International admitted under oath that all his handlers strike elephants with bullhooks.

Adding to the incontrovertible evidence of elephant abuse and suffering in the Ringling circus is undercover video

Keele was well-compensated for his association with the Ringling circus, both in terms of the money he was paid as an expert witness and by advancing his goal of cementing closer cooperation between Ringling and AZA zoos for breeding purposes. In return, the circus received credibility from Keele, whose credentials as a zoo and AZA official were made clear at the trial.

Keele's behavior brings shame to the AZA, harms those within the industry who truly care about protecting elephants and makes a mockery of the group's stated commitment to promote "respect for the dignity of the animals in our care."

TIME FOR AZA TO CONDEMN THE CIRCUS

Several AZA specialist groups, including those that deal with Great Apes and monkeys, have officially condemned the use of these species in entertainment. It's past time for AZA's elephant group to follow suit.

Tell the zoos to sever ties with the cruel circus industry. If zoos want to educate the public about elephants, the place to start is by taking a stand against the use and abuse of these magnificent animals for entertainment.

Contact:

Jim Maddy, President and CEO
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314
(P) 301-562-0777 X222
(F) 301-562-0888
(E) jmaddy@aza.org

Also write to the zoo in your community and request that it adopt a policy condemning the use of elephants in circuses and other entertainment venues. Find zoo contact information here

In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi, Mumbai, India, and Cameroon, Africa.

In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031
idainfo@idausa.org