Last Ringling performances set for May 2017 ELLENTON, Florida––The epoch of performing animal extravaganzas drew closer to an end over the weekend of January 14-15, 2017 with the near-simultaneous announcements by Feld Entertainment that the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus will cease performing in May 2017, and by SeaWorld that the Sunday “Shamu” show […]
Animal Rights Action Network stages Corker of finale
Limerick’s Carmody leaves ’em laughing CORK, Ireland––Disbanding, 21 years after bringing multi-issue grassroots animal rights activism to Ireland, the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) on October 25, 2016 finished with a rally in Cork against lackadaisical official responses to complaints about cruelty to animals. Allied animal advocacy organizations from Limerick, Clare, Galway, Dublin, Kildare, […]
A tale of two of the world’s oldest tigers, both named Bengali
One Bengali lived at Big Cat Rescue, the other at Associated Humane Societies’ Popcorn Park Zoo Bengali, 21 or 22 years of age, either way one of the half dozen oldest tigers on record, and one of two tigers within that elite half dozen to share the name Bengali, died on May 31, 2016 at […]
Ringling elephant dies of herpes
Blow to breeding & research plans ELLENTON, Florida––The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation on January 25, 2016 lost a baby elephant named Mike to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus––a blow to Ringling ambitions both in captive elephant breeding and in disease research. Birthed on June 27, 2013, Mike was among 26 […]
Ringling may be illegally sending elephant blood to researchers, charges SAEN
Michael Budkie writes: Re Ringling to move all elephants from the circus ring into cancer research by May 2016, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus may be violating federal law by providing research material to the University of Utah from its soon-to-be retired elephants. Public records disclose that Feld Entertainment, the owner of the […]
Ringling to move all elephants from the circus ring into cancer research by May 2016
Potential profits from cancer-fighting gene discovery trump show biz ELLENTON, Florida; UDAWALAWE, Sri Lanka––Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus executive vice president and show producer Alana Feld on January 11, 2016 “told The Associated Press exclusively” that all eleven elephants now touring with the three Ringling circus units “will be permanently retired to the company’s […]
Elephant sanctuarian Carol Buckley takes up fencing
“Good fences make good neighbors.” ––Robert Frost Whatever became of Carol Buckley, the former circus elephant trainer who founded the world-renowned Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, but made a controversial exit in March 2010? “Buckley is currently in Thailand installing the country’s first solar powered chain-free corrals for captive elephants,” Elephant Aid International publicist Patricia Jones […]
Netherlands & Mexico ban wildlife use in circuses
DEN HAAG, MEXICO CITY, LONDON––Announcements distributed by Animal Defenders International less than 24 hours apart on December 12 and 13, 2014 heralded Dutch and Mexican national bans on the use of wild animals in circuses. Said Animal Defenders International president Jan Creamer, “Use of animals in traveling circuses is cruel and outdated, and that is […]
Oakland bans elephant hooks
Wednesday, December 10, 2:30 a.m. TO ELEPHANT ADVOCATES EVERYWHERE Some good news on the circus elephant front! Just got home from the Oakland City Council meeting (5:30pm – 2:30 a.m.) –an overflow crowd. The Council last night passed an ordinance banning the use of bullhooks and similar devices on circus elephants, following the lead of […]
Hope Elephants founder James Laurita, 56
James Laurita, DVM, 56, cofounder with his brother Tom of the Hope Elephants sanctuary in Hope, Maine, was found dead in the sanctuary barn on September 9, 2014. Laurita apparently fell while working alone, and was stepped on by one of the two resident former Carson & Barnes Circus elephants, Rosie and Opal. “The elephant […]