PETA decries circus's ethics

Animal-rights group slams Ringling Bros. as the circus comes to the area for the next two weeks

By MICHAEL ZITZ

Date published: 3/25/2005

By MICHAEL ZITZ Group: Animals mistreated

Almost everyone knows the classic Disney story "Dumbo," the heart-rending tale of a baby elephant cruelly taken from its mother far too soon by callous circus handlers.

Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is painting a far worse picture of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as the "Greatest Show on Earth" comes to Washington's MCI Center this week and to the Patriot Center in Fairfax County next week.

PETA protesters showed up yesterday in Washington's Lafayette Park, and demonstrated in New York City on Wednesday when the circus arrived there.

Thousands of visitors to PETA's Web site are finding a searing attack on Ringling Bros. titled "Baby Killers."

But Darin Johnson, national spokesman for Ringling Bros., insists PETA's portrayal is as fictitious as the tale of Dumbo the flying elephant.

While "Dumbo" has a happy ending, PETA's tale of Riccardo the baby elephant's end is anything but happy.

Video of the elephant's birth shows it snatched away by circus workers before its mother can even look down and see it.

Riccardo then died in July when he was only 8 months old.

PETA says the young elephant was involved in a training exercise in Florida, fell off a 19-inch-high platform and broke both back legs, then was euthanized.

His bones were brittle because his mother was not allowed to nurse him, PETA spokeswoman Brandi Valladolid said.

"We've been protesting Ringling Bros. for a very long time," Valladolid said. "Ringling Bros. is the bottom of the barrel when it comes to animal welfare and animal care."

Johnson vehemently denied that.

"What the public needs to understand is that any type of abuse or mistreatment of animals is not tolerated at Ringling Bros. and goes against out animal care policies," he said.

He called the circus's handlers and trainers "a dedicated team of people who love and respect their animals."

And, he said, Riccardo was not training, but playing, when he fell off a platform.

PETA's Valladolid said parents should not take their children to the Ringling Bros. Circus to see the animals.

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Date published: 3/25/2005