Ringling Brothers Slammed With Record Fine For Abusing Elephants

USDA cites parent company Feld Entertainment with several violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
By Jocelyn Heaney
November 30, 2011
1 comments
Ringling Brothers Slammed With Record Fine For Abusing Elephants
Circus Elephants often remained chained up to 100 hours when not performing

In a landmark decision, the USDA has cited Feld Entertainment, which produces the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, for several violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including chaining the animals between performances and using bullhooks to keep them in line. The citation includes a $270,000 record fine.

"The settlement sends a direct message to the public and to those who exhibit animals that USDA will take all necessary steps to protect animals regulated under the Animal Welfare Act," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

While it’s unlikely that Ringling Brothers will experience a profound moral awakening any time soon, paying record fines and garnering bad publicity might encourage them to give better treatment to the animals they imprison and abuse in the name of family entertainment.

The USDA can charge up to $10,000 per violation of the Animal Welfare Act.  

According to CNN, Feld Entertainment settled in lieu of legal hearings and agreed to implement new training protocols for any circus employees who work with animals. 

In a statement of bland, slippery acquiescence, CEO Kenneth Feld said, “We look forward to working with the USDA in a cooperative and transparent manner that meets our shared goal of ensuring that our animals receive the highest quality care.”

Animal welfare groups were the first to initiate legal proceedings against Feld Entertainment in October of this year.

The ASPCA and the Animal Protection Institute charged the entertainment giant with systematic abuse and exploitation, and a violation of the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit was dismissed because a judge ruled that the organizations themselves did not sustain legal injury from Feld Entertainment.

While it’s unlikely that Ringling Brothers will experience a profound moral awakening any time soon, paying record fines and garnering bad publicity might encourage them to give better treatment to the animals they imprison and abuse in the name of family entertainment.

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Comments

1
I went to a Ringling Circus performance with my kids recently. The animals seemed happy enough and there were brochures on how they were treated and the preserve in Florida where they are retired and rested. I hate PETA --- the impose their weird morality on us. 1.4 Million Iraqis have been killed since the Bush Wars began in 2003...funny how Peta doesnt give a damn about human children isnt it?!
Dean Cris
posted on Feb 7, 2012