Circus elephants are main attraction at congressional inquiry

June 13, 2000
Web posted at: 2:22 PM EDT (1822 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Although they are considered the greatest draw to the "Greatest Show on Earth," pending legislation on Capitol Hill could very well ban elephants from circuses and outlaw elephant rides across the United States.

A collection of animal-rights activists, circus trainers, celebrities and elephant experts convened in Washington on Tuesday as members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime heard testimony on the "Captive Elephant Accident Prevention Act." The bill, sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr (D-California), would outlaw the use of elephants in traveling shows or circuses, and for the purpose of offering elephant rides. Offenders would face stiff federal fines and up to one year in jail.

Although circus treatment of elephants is currently overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), supporters of the Elephant Act said Tuesday that mistreatment and animal abuse is common even among the best-run circuses.

Game show host and animal rights activist Bob Barker testified Tuesday before a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the Captive Elephant Accident Prevention Act.

Among those who testified on behalf of the legislation was game show host Bob Barker, a well-known animal right activist. Actress Kim Basinger was also in Washington to offer support for the bill, but did not testify.

"In their natural habitat elephants graze up to 20 hours a day. A circus keeps an elephant in chains 90% of the time," Barker said. "They are deprived of water and deprived of food. They are shocked."

Tom Rider, a former elephant trainer with Ringling Brothers and other travelling circus shows, said that elephants are routinely beaten with a large "bull hook" when they do not perform properly.

"It is the only way they think they can make the elephant do something. They will take the hook and hook them behind the ear and yank their head down. It is very painful to the elephant. They scream and try to get away," Rider said.

Animal rights groups such as People For the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) say rampaging elephants have killed 23 people since 1983, although opponents say none of those killed were circus patrons, but handlers and trainers.

During his testimony, Rider highlighted a number of "elephant rampage" instances that he said commonly occur behind the scenes at many traveling shows. He also alleged that the continued mistreatment of the animals makes them a public safety risk.

"My experiences with the circus has convinced me that, because of the way they live and are trained, elephants are extremely dangerous and should not be around the public. I also know first hand that the circus keeps the danger and the public exposure well hidden and we were cautioned never to let the public know if anything goes wrong," he said.

But other circus trainers and owners challenged the bill as nothing more than special interest legislation sponsored by the animal rights activists.

David Rawls, a circus owner and representative of Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA), said a majority of trainers abide by comprehensive USDA guidelines and have taken further steps to care for their elephants.

"Studies by noted animal behavior specialists indicate that circus animals live longer, less stressful, more stimulating lives. To quote National Geographic, 'Animals that have no interaction with man are much more likely to become extinct,'" Rawls said.

He added that more than 10 million people have ridden elephants at circuses in this country in the past ten years without a serious injury or death. Statistics cited by animal-rights groups were "manipulated and inflated," he said.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report.

Tuesday, June 13, 2000

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• Capitol Hill debates DNA testing in capital crimes
  
• Clinton urges Congress to pass patients' bill of rights after Supreme Court ruling
  
• Circus elephants are main attraction at congressional inquiry
  
• Drug coverage must be added to Medicare while the money's there, Clinton says
  
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• Report: Danforth pulls name from list of potential Bush running mates
  
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• White House claims rural elderly will suffer under GOP drug plan
  
• Clinton and Dole attend fund-raiser for Sen. Dodd
  
• First lady, House whip share foster care award
  

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