As Case Exposed, Ringling Performs in Rosemont

For Immediate Release:
November 11, 2008

Contact:
RaeLeann Smith 757-622-7382

Rosemont, Ill. -- Today, PETA fired off a letter to Nicole Feld, executive vice president of Feld Entertainment, which owns the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, urging her to stop leasing animals from trainer Lance Ramos, aka Lancelot Kollmann. Ringling is performing in Rosemont this week. PETA's request stems from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) November 8 confiscation of Kollmann's emaciated 21-year-old elephant, Ned, who is reportedly underweight by at least 1 ton and so badly undernourished that his ribs, spine, and shoulder blades are protruding. Ringling is currently leasing tigers from Kollmann, who has a long history of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act. PETA has encouraged the USDA to pursue criminal charges against Kollmann and to revoke his exhibitor's license permanently.

"Animal suffering is rife among trainers who supply animals to circuses, but this trainer's record of animal mistreatment makes him one of the worst offenders," says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. "By doing business with Kollmann, Ringling continues to give animal abuse a stamp of approval."

For more information, please visit PETA's Web site Circuses.com.

PETA's letter to Feld Entertainment follows.

November 11, 2008

Nicole Feld, Executive Vice President
Feld Entertainment Inc.

Dear Ms. Feld:

I am writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 2 million members and supporters. You might be aware that on November 8, an emaciated elephant named Ned was confiscated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from Florida-based circus trainer Lance Ramos, aka Lancelot Kollmann. It is our understanding that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus currently leases tigers from Kollmann. While we are certain that many of the exhibitors from whom you lease animal acts have their own baggage of animal abuse and neglect, Kollmann's abysmal record makes him one of the worst. We hope that you will consider this recent case of neglect as egregious and unacceptable as we do and will discontinue your business relationship with Kollmann.

Kollmann operated under his father's USDA license until it was permanently revoked in 2000 after an elephant killed a circus worker. The same elephant suddenly died several days later. Kollmann was cited by the USDA when four big cats died after deworming medication was administered without veterinary supervision. Kollmann has also been cited by the USDA for failure to provide veterinary care to injured animals; causing trauma, harm, and lesions to an improperly restrained jaguar; unsanitary conditions; and failure to provide adequate shelter and clean water. In July 2000, the USDA initially denied a permit to Kollmann, stating, "You were responsible for or participated in violations that resulted in the revocation of [your father's] USDA license."

Given Ned's life-threatening condition coupled with this exhibitor's history of disregarding the minimal standards and regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, can we count on you to end your relationship with Kollmann? It would provide a wonderful opportunity for Ringling to do away with its tiger act altogether.

Sincerely,

RaeLeann Smith, Circus & Government Affairs Specialist
Captive Animals Rescue and Enforcement