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Carson & Barnes trainer taped beating elephants

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Contributed by: Lisa Wathne on 5/25/2007

Highlands Ranch, Colo. -- This morning, PETA sent a letter to the Douglas County Commission urging the lawmakers to enact legislation that would ban the use of bullhooks, electric prods, and other devices commonly used to inflict pain on elephants. PETA's request comes in light of Carson & Barnes Circus' scheduled June 1 to 3 visit to Highlands Ranch.

Carson & Barnes is a chronic violator of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and its animal care director has been caught on videotape viciously attacking elephants with bullhooks and electric prods. PETA points out that similar legislation is already pending in Chicago and has requested to meet with the board of directors to discuss making next weekend's Carson & Barnes performances the last time that these instruments are used against elephants in Douglas County.

PETA's letter was accompanied by a videotape, which shows Carson & Barnes animal care director Tim Frisco repeatedly attacking elephants with steel-tipped bullhooks and shocking them with electric prods as the animals scream and recoil in pain. "Tear that foot off! Tear it off! Make 'em scream!" Frisco instructs trainers. "Right here in the barn. You can't do it on the road. I'm not gonna touch her in front of a thousand people." The undercover video footage reveals standard elephant-training practices used by the circus industry.

"Bullhooks are cruel tools of the circus trade that are routinely used to beat elephants into submission," says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. "The county commissioners must send circuses the message that these instruments of torture will not be permitted in Douglas County."

Video footage of elephant beatings can be seen on PETA's Web site Circuses.com. PETA's letter to the Douglas County Commission follows.

May 22, 2007

Douglas County Commission
100 Third St.
Castle Rock, CO 80104

Dear Commissioners:

PETA is the world's largest animal rights organization, with more than 1.6 million members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. We have obtained video footage documenting elephant abuse at the Carson & Barnes Circus, which is scheduled to perform in Highlands Ranch from June 1 to 3. We are writing to ask you to enact legislation that would ban bullhooks, electric prods, and other devices that inflict pain on or cause injury to elephants.

The enclosed video footage shows Carson & Barnes animal care director Tim Frisco viciously attacking terrified elephants with metal bullhooks and electric prods. Frisco instructs other trainers to hurt the elephants until they scream and to sink a sharp metal bullhook into their flesh and twist it. Frisco also cautions that the beatings must be concealed from the public. A U.S. District Court judge described this video as "troubling" and noted that it depicts conduct that violates the federal Animal Welfare Act. Carson & Barnes paid a $400 fine for mishandling elephants.

The use of bullhooks results in pain, suffering, and trauma, including lacerations, puncture wounds, swelling, and abscesses. Although elephants' skin appears tough, it is actually so sensitive that elephants can feel the pain of an insect bite. Trainers embed the sharp hooks into the elephants' skin and soft tissue areas. Bullhook abuse is routine at circuses that continue to use this barbaric instrument, but penalties are rare. Elephants will not be afforded more humane care until communities prohibit these cruel devices.

An elephant's ability to feel pain-as well as sorrow, joy, and happiness-rivals our own. In circuses, every instinct is subject to discipline. Elephants who reach for a blade of grass, try to comfort a friend, or extend their trunks to smell something new suffer a painful blow from a bullhook. A fumbled trick during the show results in a beating. Elephants in circuses live a sad life of punishment and confinement.

We hope you agree that the abuse of animals in circuses is unacceptable and that you'll make this year's Carson & Barnes performances the last time that elephants will have to endure the bite of a bullhook in Douglas County. Please let me know if we can meet to discuss this issue. You can contact me at 757-622-7382.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Lisa Wathne, Captive Exotic Animal Specialist

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