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PETA Releases Video of Circus Elephant Abuse

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2009 1:28 PM CDT

(Newser) – PETA has released video it says shows cruelty to circus elephants, the Orange County Register reports. The tape shows Ringling Bros. handlers swatting elephants with “bull hooks,” and one pachyderm exhibiting signs of “severe psychological distress.” “This video again shows what we have been saying for years,” PETA charges. “These animals are routinely abused to perform in ways that they don’t naturally perform.”

“The question I ask moms coming to the circus is, ‘Would you want your children treated like these elephants are?’” said a protester outside a Ringling show in Southern California. The circus denies any wrongdoing. “It is no surprise that PETA would once again release misinformation,” it says in a statement. “We encourage people to come see for themselves that the animals are thriving in our care.”

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

The PETA video shows a trainer, bottom left, hitting an elephant in the face with a rod, backstage at the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. (AP Photo)

Susie, 46, a Ringling Bros. Asian elephant. (AP Photo)

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The PETA video. Contains language and some violence. (officialpeta)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 10 comments

john1244

Jun 22, 2010 8:34 PM CDT

this is disgusting. i'd like to hit those people with bullhooks.

BlahBlahBlah

Jul 26, 2009 7:40 AM CDT

Cool, tell ya what come and look me up so I can beat the crap out of you. Can I use a bullhook? Did you not see and hear the parts where the Elephants obviously where in pain? You make me sick. Oh, I hate personally think Peta is full of it more often then not. However, when one is made to look at horrible things like this you have to be devoid of a F!@KING sole not to hurt for those animals. Do the world a favor and keep your simple minded a#$ off the comments page.

riffran

Jul 25, 2009 7:02 AM CDT

I love nature and love to see it up close, but do not like the captivity of stuff like zoo's...and yet I have a 200gallon aquarium...go figure

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US • Crime & Courts • Money

animal cruelty • PETA • elephant • circus • undercover video • protesters • Ringling Brothers

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