Photos: More Than Five Dozen People Form Giant ‘Elephant’ to Protest Feds’ Failure to Help Animals

For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2014

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

The bird’s-eye view of the U.S. Capitol never looked like this before. Yesterday, more than five dozen PETA supporters, young and old, from across the U.S. dressed all in gray and lay down together in the shape of a larger-than-life elephant. It was all to protest the government’s failure to protect captive elephants in the U.S. from being forced to perform in circuses, fairs, and other events despite debilitating, painful, and life-threatening lameness and arthritis—one of the leading reasons why captive elephants are euthanized.

Photos from the unique demonstration are available here.

“The federal Animal Welfare Act calls for action by U.S. authorities, who have repeatedly ignored captive elephants’ life-threatening suffering,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “PETA’s motto reads, in part, that ‘animals are not ours to use for entertainment,’ and it’s calling on officials to stop abusive businesses, such as Ringling Bros., from dragging ailing elephants to performances around the country.”

More information about the event is available here.