Victory! Circus Sends Pachyderms Packing
Behold the power of the pen and the protest: Walker Bros. Circus has axed elephant acts from its lineup—and it seems that there’s little chance the pachyderms will return. A spokesperson told KeyNews.com that the circus has “basically done away with using exotic animals in the show because of the [animal rights] activists.”
PETA has long denounced Walker Bros. Circus for its abuse of elephants, many of whom were leased from Hawthorn Corp., which was forced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to surrender 16 elephants after the agency charged both Hawthorn and Walker Bros. Circus with numerous serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
It was the concern and actions of caring people that prompted Walker Bros. Circus to finally drop exotic animals from its lineup—and maybe the circus will eventually drop all animal acts. Let’s remember this as we continue to rally against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s shocking mistreatment of elephants and other animals.
Written by Karin Bennett
