Feld Entertainment—the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—recently paid the largest settlement ever by an exhibitor in the history of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) for a multitude of AWA violations, including forcing sick animals to perform and failing to provide animals with proper veterinary care. Ringling’s long history of AWA violations includes physically abusing animals, causing physical harm to animals, and transporting animals in dangerous railcars and other vehicles whose jagged edges and broken metal wound them. Undercover video footage shows Ringling handlers using bullhooks to strike elephants backstage before performances in order to remind them “who’s boss.” Despite its abysmal track record, Ringling is currently requesting a permit that would allow the circus to continue harming endangered Asian elephants and leopards.

Ringling claims that the elephants and leopards will be used for “conservation education,” but the company has failed to demonstrate that it will do anything other than cruelly display these animals for commercial entertainment. The purpose of transporting animals up to 50 weeks a year while keeping them chained for up to 100 consecutive hours in cramped, narrow boxcars—as Ringling does—is not to enhance the species, but to force them to perform in the company’s profitable circus. Experts agree that forcing endangered animals to perform in circuses negatively impacts conservation efforts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has the authority to deny this misleading permit request, and the agency wants to hear from you. Public input will be accepted until the end of the day on February 16. This input is extremely important to officials—it influences them when they are determining their course of action. These elephants and leopards need you to speak up for them now! Please join PETA by personalizing the comments below and urging the FWS to deny Ringling’s misleading application to continue using—and abusing—Asian elephants and leopards. The more you are able to personalize the comments, the more impact they will have.

WHOM TO CONTACT

Brenda Tapia, Program Analyst/Data Administrator
Branch of Permits
Division of Management Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Rm. 212
Arlington, VA 22203
dmafr@fws.gov

703-358-2280 (fax)

Click HERE for access to free faxing from your computer.  No fax machine, registering, or credit card required.  Please remember to confirm the fax via your email after submitting.

SUGGESTED SUBJECT LINE

Please Deny Feld Entertainment’s Application!

SUGGESTED LETTER

I am writing to urge you to deny Feld Entertainment’s application to renew its captive-bred wildlife registration (PRT-720230) for Asian elephants and leopards.

Because Feld Entertainment—the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—has failed to demonstrate that its exhibition of Asian elephants and leopards for entertainment is educational and because studies have shown that circus-style animal exhibits fail to enhance the survival of the species, the application must be denied.

In addition, Ringling recently paid the largest settlement ever by an exhibitor in the history of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) for a multitude of AWA violations, including forcing sick animals to perform and failing to provide animals with proper veterinary care. Ringling’s long history of AWA violations includes physically abusing animals, causing physical harm to animals, and transporting animals in dangerous railcars and other vehicles whose jagged edges and broken metal wound them.

It is clear that Ringling cannot meet the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, and therefore, the company’s application to renew its captive-bred wildlife registration for endangered Asian elephants and leopards must be denied.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

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