How Circus Training and Abuse Killed These Baby Elephants

Posted September 22, 2015 by Kim Johnson

The first step in training baby elephants to perform is to destroy the bond between them and their mothers. To do this, Ringling Bros. trainers drag the babies away from their mothers. For up to 23 hours a day, the babies’ legs are tethered so that all they can do is stand in one spot on a concrete floor. They aren’t provided with any mental or physical stimulation, and they can’t lie down, stretch their legs, or even turn around.

After up to six long months of standing in their own waste, these once curious and energetic elephants lose all interest in fighting back. Their spirits are broken. Now, they’re under the control of the trainers, who begin forcing them to do confusing and painful tricks through the use of violence and fear. This type of “training” and abuse is what killed these elephants:

Riccardo

Riccardo’s life began inside Ringling’s misleadingly named breeding facility, the Center for Elephant Conservation. After Riccardo’s mother, Shirley, gave birth—while she was chained by three legs—she made several desperate attempts to reach out and care for her newborn, but instead of allowing mother and baby to bond, Ringling’s trainers pulled Riccardo away.

When Riccardo was only 8 months old, he fell off a pedestal and broke his hind legs. Ringling trainers originally claimed that he had fallen while he was playing, but it was later revealed in court that Riccardo actually fell while he was being trained to get on the pedestal. His trainer admitted that he was holding a bullhook and that a rope was tied around Riccardo’s trunk when the baby elephant toppled over. The damage to Riccardo’s legs could not be treated, and veterinarians euthanized him. 

Kenny

Kenny was just 3 years old when he died. In the wild, he would still be at his mother’s side, but in the circus, Kenny had to spend much of his time traveling around the country inside a cramped boxcar. One day in 1998, Kenny was reportedly very sick, but trainers still forced him to perform in two shows. 

According to the circus’s animal-care log, Kenny was “not eating or drinking.” He also was “bleeding from his rectum … had a hard time standing, was very shaky, walked very slowly,” and “passed a large amount of blood from his rectum.” Later that night, he died alone in his stall. 

Benjamin

Just a year after Kenny’s death, Benjamin died while he was traveling with Ringling. During a stop in Texas, he went swimming in a pond with another young elephant named Shirley (who would later give birth to Riccardo, mentioned above). When the elephants’ trainer commanded them to exit the pond, Shirley obeyed immediately, but being a young and curious elephant, Benjamin continued to splash and play in the water, ignoring the trainer’s commands.

The trainer then grabbed his bullhook and went into the water after Benjamin. Likely out of fear of the trainer and the bullhook, Benjamin moved away into deeper water and drowned. 

Bertha

In 2005, an 11-day-old elephant named Bertha reportedly died. The circus did not announce her birth or death.

What You Can Do

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced that it plans to phase out the use of elephants in its performances by 2018. While this is a great victory it is not enough. For the next three years, elephants with Ringling will still be chained, hit with bullhooks,and crammed into tiny boxcars. Many of the elephants suffer from painful arthritis or carry tuberculosis, and their retirement day needs to come now.

Three years is too long for a mother elephant separated from her calf, too long for a baby elephant beaten with bullhooks, and too long for an animal who would roam up to 30 miles a day in the wild but who is instead kept in shackles.

Never go to a circus that uses animals! Continue to speak up for animals abused by Ringling, and urge the circus to retire the elephants NOW.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/ringling-baby-elephant-training-deaths/#ixzz3mVvHRDhO

7 Ways to Have a Blast WITHOUT Hurting Animals

Posted August 27, 2015 by Diana Mendoza

There are a few things we need to talk about—like what counts as entertainment and what DOESN’T. While we can spend our summer days being carefree and eating vegan ice cream, animals held captive in zoos, circuses, and marine parks NEVER get a vacation. 

Captive elephants, tigers, orcas, dolphins, bears, and other animals might have been stolen from their homes and families in the wild. They may be beaten with bullhooks or shocked with electric prods. Kept in incompatible groups, some may be bullied by other animals, and some may become so stressed from being confined to tiny cages, tanks, or pits that they attack people. Check out our list of what counts as entertainment and what definitely doesn’t.

ENTERTAINMENT: HIKING

If you’re jonesing to get some one-on-one time with nature, you need to hit the trails ASAP. Spend a day in the woods, hike to a waterfall, or wander through a canyon and listen to the soothing soundtrack of birds chirping, the wind blowing, or the trickle of a flowing stream. Many state parks—some of which also serve as protected habitats for endangered plants and animals—offer a variety of scenic trails for all skill levels that will allow you to observe nature in all its glory. Bonus points if you catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset!

NOT: ZOOS

We Animals | Jo-Anne McArthur

Seeing animals in cages tells you very little about their species and how they behave in the wild, since their needs are rarely met in captivity. Zoos often breed animals primarily because cute babies attract more visitors—not because they’re trying to preserve the species. Most animals born in captivity are never released into the wild.

ENTERTAINMENT: MUSIC FESTIVALS

Our favorite tour ever, Warped Tour, has vendors, a ton of talented bands that WANT to perform for you, and, of course, the peta2 booth—where we give out loads of free stickers, DVDs, and more. Warped Tour not going through your town? Chances are, there are probably about a million other music festivals happening nearby where you can go rock your face off without exploiting animals. It’s a win-win situation!

NOT: CIRCUSES

Buying a ticket to a circus that uses animals directly supports the physical, emotional, and mental abuse of animals. Think about it: Tigers are naturally afraid of fire, yet in circuses, they’re forced to jump through rings of fire. So … how scared must they be of their trainers for them to do that?! Footage has shown that big cats are whipped, smacked, and yelled at during training. Definitely NOT entertainment.

ENTERTAINMENT: MOVIE NIGHT

Popcorn: FreeImages.com/Linnell Esler

Sometimes, we just want to relax on the couch with a giant bowl of popcorn and some delicious accidentally vegan candy and watch all the Harry Potter movies in a row. Get your snack on and enjoy a night in—bonus points if you watch some cool animal documentaries! Here’s a list of our faves.

NOT: BUYING TICKETS TO MOVIES THAT USE ANIMALS

Unlike humans, no great ape ever dreams of becoming a star of the big screen. For chimpanzees and orangutans, performing is stressful and confusing. In order to force young apes to perform on cue, trainers often strike the animals with their fists, clubs, or even broom handles. The presence of American Humane Association representatives on set is no guarantee that the animals weren’t exploited, hurt, or even killed, as inspectors don’t monitor the animals’ living conditions or preproduction training.

ENTERTAINMENT: WHALE WATCHING

Humpback Whales | Photo by: National Marine Sanctuaries | CC by 2.0

You can experience the mind-blowing beauty of marine life up close by taking a boat ride out to sea for some whale watching. Many boating expeditions that take you out on the water to observe marine animals are surprisingly inexpensive. Before booking, ask about the company’s code of conduct to ensure that the operation is responsible and doesn’t put animals at risk. A day on the water might include spotting a variety of animals—like sea lions, otters, whales, curious dolphins (who’ve been known to follow alongside boats), pelicans, bald eagles, and others—as they’re meant to be: free in the wild.

NOT: MARINE PARKS

So … orcas are really smart and can swim, like, 100 miles a day. How’s THAT for a star athlete, eh?! Too bad orcas at SeaWorld and other marine parks are forced to live in concrete bathtubs, where they can only swim in endless circles when they’re not being forced to perform stupid tricks.

ENTERTAINMENT: ANIMAL SANCTUARY

A trip to an animal sanctuary is a definite MUST for true animal lovers. Meet some rescued animals and learn about their stories and what you can do to help them and others like them in the future. Don’t be duped by unscrupulous posers—only support facilities that are accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

NOT: ROADSIDE ANIMAL DISPLAYS

The stress that animals living in unnatural environments in roadside zoos endure can cause abnormal and self-destructive behavior such as swaying, pacing, and even self-mutilation. This behavior rarely happens in the wild but is regularly seen in animals who are confined to zoos. This is referred to as “zoochosis,” a disturbing and unnatural psychological condition.

ENTERTAINMENT: THE BEACH

FreeImages.com/Dragan Sasic

Claim your spot on the sand and bust out a good book, because the beach is all about relaxing! Get comfortable and spend some time soaking up the sun with friends or family, paddle out and catch some surf, or just chillax.

NOT: MARINE PARKS

If you’re a dolphin at a marine park, some trainer jerk may treat you like you’re his effing surfboard! And unlike when YOU go surfing, there’s no endless horizon in those small tanks. To get dolphins to perform dumb tricks, trainers isolate these highly intelligent and social animals or deprive them of food .

ENTERTAINMENT: SPORTING EVENTS

FreeImages.com/Aaron Schwab

Round up some friends and head to the ball game—it’ll give you plenty of time to catch up with your pals, and you’ll see some amazing athletes strutting their stuff.

NOT: CIRCUSES

The Ringling Bros. circus tears baby elephants away from their mothers, The young elephants are bound, forced to the ground, threatened with bullhooks, and chained to break their spirit and force them to perform confusing and dangerous tricks. SO HEARTBREAKING!

Animals are not ours to use for entertainment. Pledge never to go to zoos, marine parks, or animal circuses. If we don’t take action, nothing will change.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/cruelty-free-vacation-ideas/#ixzz3kAQHJvNH

Girl Group Little Mix Says, 'Get Wild Animals out of the Circus!'

Article by: Hannah Easley

The girls of Little Mix is all up in circus' biz with this new Peta2 ad! Let's see what they have to say:

Wait wait wait.. let's get to know the girl group first.

"Little Mix (also known as RythmMix) Has 4 girls, including Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jesy Nelson. They were formed exclusively for the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011 and became the first group to win the competition. Following their victory, they signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Music and released a cover of Damien Rice's "Cannonball" as their winner's single. " -Wikipedia

Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	Pop R&B hip hop
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Syco Columbia
Associated acts	Demi Lovato[1] Missy Elliott
Website	www.little-mix.com

"Why would they not support circuses?" You may ask, well I'll show you why. 

In circuses, many wild animals, (including: elephants, tigers, lions, bears, etc.) are forced to perform many odd tricks that are so unnatural. Not only that, they are trained very abusively, with bullhooks, fire, tazors, etc.



Do you think elephants stand up on their two left feet in the wild? No, they don't.
Do you think tigers love fire so much that they jump through hoops of them? No, they are terrified of fire.
What about bears? Do they wear tutus and ride tricycles in the wild? NO.

So let's thank Little Mix for speaking up for animals in the circus! 

How You Can Help Animals in the Circus

"Join Little Mix in speaking up for animals! Remember that every circus ticket purchased directly supports the suffering of these animals. Never go to any circus that uses animals, and encourage your friends and family to stay away, too." -Peta2

What happens when animals are released from captivity -

Posted July 22, 2015 by Lily Trahan

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably aware of all the awful things that SeaWorld does to the animals it holds captive. But it isn’t just SeaWorld—other marine parks as well as aquariums and zoos treat animals terribly, too!

NO species exists just to be locked up, whether animals are born into captivity or not, plain and simple. All living beings—human or not—deserve to be left alone so that they can fully enjoy life in their natural habitats with their families. Facilities like zoos and aquariums rob animals of these opportunities and everything that’s natural and important to them, which is why it’s crucial to speak out and call on these businesses to free suffering animals.

Now, people sometimes question what would happen to animals after they’ve been freed and if it’s even possible for them to survive. Well, we have the answers:

Where would these animals go?

If animals were released from these types of facilities, they could be sent to true sanctuaries where they’d be able to live in an appropriate habitat. They’d receive care and support while still being able to enjoy what’s natural and important to them. Most importantly, they’d no longer be treated as nothing more than a way to make money.

After years in captivity, Sunder enjoys the sanctuary life!

Do places like aquariums and zoos help with conservation?

If animals are taken from the wild and placed or bred into captivity, they virtually never return to their natural habitat. Zoos and aquariums help little with funding conservation efforts and have very limited breeding programs designed to release animals back into the natural world. Studies show that keeping animals in captivity actually harms conservation efforts.

What about protecting animals from hunters?

Places like zoos and aquariums serve only as a band-aid for animals at risk because of hunting. We need to get rid of the problem at the source, which is to end sport hunting first.

“Canned hunting” ranches often buy unwanted or surplus animals from zoos.

Are these places educational?

Sadly, no. If we truly want to learn about animals and their abilities, it’s best to view them in their natural habitats. This is the only way to see what they’re fully capable of. There’s nothing natural about watching animals behind bars, in inadequate conditions, or without family members to interact with—which is important for social animals.

Can they survive in the wild if they were born into captivity?

Usually not, but they can thrive in sanctuaries!

Iris the monkey goes from living in filthy isolation, to enjoying an island paradise at a sanctuary

Seventeen bears had been held captive in virtually barren concrete pits at Black Forest Bear Park in Helen, Georgia, but nowthey are living it up at the stunning 60-acre natural habitat at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.

How can I help animals in the meantime?

Avoid places that use animals for “entertainment,“ and support legit sanctuaries and habitat conservation! Spreading awareness makes a world of difference, too, because it’ll encourage others to vote with their dollars. Together, we can be the voice for animals who are suffering in silence.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/where-captive-animals-released/#ixzz3iYJ4tWmE

Reasons Why Hunting Should Be Gone

Posted January 29, 2015 by Kim Johnson

Studies show that today, most hunters stalk and kill animals for the thrill of it, not out of necessity. Here are eight reasons why you should never support hunting:

1. Hunting causes pain and suffering.

This violent form of “entertainment” rips families apart and leaves countless animals orphaned or badly injured when hunters miss their targets. Quick kills are rare, and many animals endure prolonged, painful deaths when they’re hurt but not killed by hunters.

A study of 80 radio-collared white-tailed deer found that of the 22 deer who had been shot with “traditional archery equipment,” 11 were wounded but not recovered by hunters. A study also showed that 20 percent of foxes who are wounded by hunters are shot again, and a South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks biologist estimates that more than 3 million wounded ducks go unretrieved every year.

A British study of deer hunting found that 11 percent of deer killed by hunters die only after being shot two or more times and that some wounded deer suffer for more than 15 minutes before dying.

For animals such as wolves and geese, who mate for life and live in close family units, hunting can devastate entire communities. Could you imagine losing a family member?

2. It isn’t about conservation or population control.

In school, you might have learned about Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, which explains that the sickest and weakest animals are the most likely to be killed by natural predators, leaving the strongest animals to survive and pass their genes on. Hunters, however, disrupt this natural balance because they prefer to kill the largest, strongest animals.

Even if overpopulation happened naturally to a group of animals, nature would work to regulate the population. Starvation and disease are tragic, but they are nature’s way of ensuring that the healthy, strong animals survive and maintain the strength of their herd.

Because hunting isn’t an effective method of controlling deer populations, some wildlife agencies use other methods to keep deer out of unwanted areas and reduce breeding. Repellents, deterrents, and strategically placed fencing can encourage deer to stay away from artificial and easy food sources, and when food sources are scarce, deer refrain from breeding and have fewer babies.

3. There are few regulations.

Most hunting occurs on private land, where laws that protect wildlife often don’t apply or are difficult to enforce. On private properties that are set up as for-profit hunting reserves or game ranches, hunters can pay to kill native and exotic species in “canned hunts.” These animals are hunted and killed for the sole purpose of providing hunters with a “trophy.”

4. It’s profit-driven.

Canned hunts are big business, but forty percent of hunters also kill and injure millions of animals on public land every year. Most federal and state agencies that manage wildlife refuges, national forests, state parks, and other public lands are partially funded by hunting and fishing activities, so agency employees often go out of their way to encourage hunting rather than regulating or policing it.

5. It claims other, nontarget victims.

Facebook

Hunters are not only injured by other hunters, but risk being attacked by animals, too. You might remember the story ofCamille Bomboy, an 18-year-old who was hunting deer and attacked by a bear.

Hunting accidents often injure or kill horses, cows, dogs, cats, hikers, and other hunters. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, thousands of human injuries are attributed to hunting every year in the U.S. Hunters are at risk of being injured not only by other hunters but also by animals, who may see them as a threat and attack.

Dogs who are used for hunting also suffer. They’re often kept chained or penned and denied routine veterinary care such as vaccines and heartworm medication. Some are lost during hunts and never found, and others who are turned loose at the end of hunting season to fend for themselves often die of starvation or get struck by vehicles.

6. Violence against animals can lead to violence against humans.

Kip Kinkel killed his parents and opened fire in his school cafeteria, killing two and injuring 22 others. He had a history of animal abuse and torture, having boasted about killing animals.

Like other forms of casual or “thrill” violence, hunting leads to a dangerous desensitization to the suffering of others. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit violent acts against animals rarely stop there, as many move on to target their fellow humans. A study conducted by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. The majority of inmates who are scheduled to be executed for murder at California’s San Quentin State Prison “practiced” their crimes on animals, according to the warden.

7. It’s unnecessary.

October 2006 bear hunting | CowgirJules | CC by-NC-SA 2.0

Hunters have a choice. With all the delicious pastas, fruits, vegetables and grains that are cheaply available everywhere, there is no reason to kill animals to survive.

What You Can Do

No Hunting or Shooting | Seth Anderson | CC by-nc-sa 2.0

To combat hunting in your area, post “no hunting” signs on your land, join or form an anti-hunting organization, protest organized hunts, and spread deer repellent or human hair (from barber shops) near hunting areas.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/hunting-facts/#ixzz3iYDulv9M