PETA's 'Injured Elephant' to Confront Potential Circusgoers in Manchester

Protesters Will Draw Attention to Ringling's Violent Treatment of Baby Elephants 

For Immediate Release:
September 27, 2012

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382 

Manchester, N.H. -- An "injured elephant" will lead PETA protesters on Thursday as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus prepares for its opening show in Manchester. The protesters will display signs that read, "This Is Ringling Baby-Elephant Training," alongside banners emblazoned with compelling photos taken inside Ringling's training center. The photos expose how baby elephants used by Ringling are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with steel-tipped bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods. These abusive sessions go on for several hours a day in order to force the baby elephants to learn to perform circus tricks out of fear of punishment. Actor Alec Baldwin recently narrated a video exposé that focuses on how circuses abuse elephants.

When:   Thursday, September 27, 12 noon 

Where:  Verizon Wireless Arena, southeast corner of Elm Street and Lake Avenue, Manchester

"Manchester residents would run screaming from the big top if they knew how baby elephants are violently forced to perform difficult, confusing, and sometimes painful tricks," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Since children love animals, the last place that parents and grandparents should take them to is the circus."

Late last year, Ringling Bros. paid the largest fine in circus history—$270,000—for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

For more information, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.