A four-day protest is planned this week in San Diego against the Ringling Bros. circus — targeted for what animal-rights activists consider abuse of elephants.
Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus has scheduled eight shows starting Thursday at Valley View Casino Center (formerly the San Diego Sports Arena).
“The circus is here promoting its cruelty,” San Diegan Ellen Ericksen said in a statement Tuesday night. “The first protest … will be this Thursday at 5:00 p.m. … The City of Los Angeles has actually banned the bullhook. I am hoping that we can do the same here in San Diego.”
In a letter to news media, Ericksen doesn’t mention PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. But she’s been an activist with that organization, which has attacked SeaWorld for its killer whale program.
She told Times of San Diego in a later email: “I am an independent activist here in San Diego. I also organize most of the $eaWorld protests and other cruelty to animals.”
In December 2013, Ericksen was organizer of a 100-person protest at SeaWorld San Diego, and according to U-T San Diego said she “ultimately hopes to see the park close.”
A website featuring videos against Ringling Bros. also is being promoted.
“Another summer of abuse [is] coming back to San Diego,” said a news release sent by Ericksen. “Animals suffer throughout the entire circus. They are chained to box cars for extended periods of time. They are forced to perform stupid tricks. Food and water is withheld. The elephants are beat with bullhooks.”
National and local groups are said to be set for the protest, Thursday through Sunday, said Ericksen, whose Twitter handle is @passionatevegan. An earlier protest against Ringling was held in July at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Another was urged last week at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
On its website, Ringling says its animal care professionals “believe that a positive, healthy environment is the only acceptable and successful method of working with animals.”
The Animal Care page further says:
The animals are fed, watered, groomed and cleaned daily. The entire stable area, including individual stalls, is cleaned regularly. The manure is removed and fresh bedding is provided.
Trainers teach animals routines that showcase their physical abilities and beauty, as well as their distinctive behaviors. Our training methods are based on reinforcement in the form of food rewards and words of praise. Verbal or physical abuse and the withholding of food or water are strictly prohibited. Drugs or sedatives are not administered unless prescribed by our vets for medical reasons.
Ringling says each animal in its “circus family” receives regular medical examinations and all needed vaccinations.
“Each touring unit has its own veterinary technician who travels with the show and provides daily medical care to the animals, while two full-time veterinarians travel between the units,” says the circus.
“In addition, we work with a network of 90 local veterinarians, and one is on call 24 hours a day in each city where the show performs. There are no days off for animal care.”
Mexico City has banned such live-animal shows, according to media reports.
Last month, Latin Post reported that using animals in circus performances became illegal after the Federal District Legislative Assembly on June 9 approved the law with a 41-0 vote, with 11 abstentions.
“The Federal District now consolidates itself as a progressive city in the vanguard of respect for the lives of nonhuman living creatures,” Jesus Sesma of Mexican Green Party was quoted as saying.
The law, called the Law on the Staging of Public Shows, “prohibits the use of live wild or domestic animals during the staging of circus performances,” Latin Post said.
It also bans the sale, presentation or use of living animals in games or lottery prizes. In addition, circuses are prohibited from using creatures “for the taking of photographs or any other related activity.”
