Alert

"It's kind of like a conductor leading an orchestra"

- AZA Elephant Group head and Oregon Zoo Director Mike Keele defending use of the bullhook at elephant abuse trial of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, March 12, 2009.

IDA Web Feature (September 14, 2009)

AZA'S COZY RELATIONSHIP WITH CIRCUSES

Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence documenting cruel treatment of elephants, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) chooses to maintain close ties with circuses. In doing so, zoos give credibility to the circus and help perpetuate the abuse and suffering inherent to the use of elephants in entertainment.

IDA CONFRONTS THE AZA

While the AZA holds its annual conference in Portland this week, IDA is there to pressure this trade association to sever all ties with the circus industry. Our activities include running a hard-hitting ad USA Today, holding a press conference and organizing leafleting outside the convention center where AZA members are gathering.

IDA is also seeking censure of Mike Keele, head of the AZA's Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) for elephants and acting director of the Oregon Zoo. In a complaint submitted to the AZA Ethics Committee, IDA detailed Keele's self-serving and disturbingly close relationship with the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus.

KEELE TESTIFIES AS EXPERT FOR RINGLING CIRCUS

In March 2009, Keele testified as a $125-per-hour expert witness for Ringling Bros. AND Barnum & Bailey Circus at a trial in U.S. District Court, Washington, DC accusing the circus of violating the Endangered Species Act by harming endangered Asian elephants through routine and abusive elephant handling practices. By appearing as an expert for the circus, Keele was giving a tacit seal of approval to Ringling's unconscionable practices that were documented through mountains of evidence presented at trial. These include:

• Chaining elephants at the Ringling Center for Elephant Conservation for a minimum of 16 to 22 hours per day;
• Using chains and ropes to tear babies away from their mothers at age two or younger (before they are weaned) to begin their training for the circus;
• Training baby elephants by breaking their spirits through maternal separation, prolonged restraint (tying up their legs), isolation from other elephants and hitting with bullhooks; (One 2-year-old baby elephant, Aria, was chained nonstop for four months and only let off chains for 40 minutes a day to be trained.)
• Striking the elephants with bullhooks, the steel-tipped rods used to hit, stab and hook elephants into compliance. Ringling head Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment International admitted under oath that all his handlers strike elephants with bullhooks.

Adding to the incontrovertible evidence of elephant abuse and suffering in the Ringling circus is undercover video taken by a PETA investigator of Ringling handlers repeatedly beating and whipping elephants and tigers. The video was taken while the Ringling trial was underway and Keele was testifying on behalf of this egregious abuser of elephants and other animals.

Keele was well-compensated for his association with the Ringling circus, both in terms of the money he was paid as an expert witness and by advancing his goal of cementing closer cooperation between Ringling and AZA zoos for breeding purposes. In return, the circus received credibility from Keele, whose zoo credentials were made clear at the trial.

Keele's behavior brings shame to the AZA, harms those within the industry who truly care about protecting elephants and makes a mockery of the group's stated commitment to promote "respect for the dignity of the animals in our care."

TIME FOR AZA TO CONDEMN THE CIRCUS

Several AZA specialist groups, including those that deal with Great Apes and monkeys, have officially condemned the use of these species in entertainment. IDA believes its past time for AZA's elephant group to follow suit.

Help us tell zoos to sever ties with the cruel circus industry. If zoos want to educate the public about elephants, the place to start is by taking a stand against the use and abuse of these magnificent animals for entertainment.

Contact:

Jim Maddy, President and CEO
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314
(P) 301-562-0777 X222
(F) 301-562-0888
(E) jmaddy@aza.org

Also write to the zoo in your community and request that it adopt a policy condemning the use of elephants in circuses and other entertainment venues. Find contact information here http://www.aza.org/findzooaquarium/.