‘Elephant’ Made of 100 People to Protest Feds’ Failure to Help Animals in Circuses

PETA Supporters Point to Vet Reports, Eyewitnesses, Complaints of Circuses Hauling Arthritic, Lame Elephants Around the Country

For Immediate Release:
November 17, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Washington – The bird’s-eye view of the U.S. Capitol has never looked like this. On Tuesday, more than 100 PETA supporters from across the U.S. will dress all in gray and lie down together in the shape of a life-size elephant. It’s all to protest the government’s failure to protect captive elephants in the U.S.

When:   Tuesday, November 18, 12 p.m.

Where:  U.S. Capitol Building, on the west lawn directly between the Capitol Building and First Street N.W., Washington

PETA has notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that elephants with debilitating, painful, and life-threatening lameness and arthritis—one of the leading reasons why captive elephants are euthanized—are forced to travel around the country and perform, a violation of the Animal Welfare Act. But the USDA has failed to stop Ringling Bros. from exhibiting lame elephants, such as Karen and Nicole, or to stop notorious elephant-ride provider Hugo Liebel from dragging the lame elephant Nosey to fairs and other venues around the country. Tuesday’s protesters will include a wildlife veterinarian who has seen Nosey’s suffering firsthand as well as an elephant expert, each of whom can attest to captive elephant suffering.

“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 we’re calling on officials to stop abusive businesses, such as Ringling Bros., from dragging ailing elephants to performances around the country.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

For Media: Contact PETA's
Media Response Team.

Contact

Get PETA Updates

Stay up to date on the latest vegan trends and get breaking animal rights news delivered straight to your inbox!

By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with our privacy policy as well as to receiving e-mails from us.

 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind