LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS (“LCA”) TO HOLD PROTEST AT RINGLING BROS. LAST ELEPHANT SHOW -- THE FINAL SHOW AFTER MORE THAN 130 YEARS!
-- LCA Founder Chris DeRose To Lead Demonstration Denouncing the Use of All Animals in Circuses on Sunday, May 1st in Wilkes-Barre, PA --
April 20, 2016, Los Angeles, CA – International nonprofit Last Chance for Animals (“LCA”) will lead a demonstration at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ final elephant performance on Sunday, May 1, 2016 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The announcement was made today by LCA Founder and President, Chris DeRose, who will be leading the demonstration outside the Ringling Bros. show at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702 at 4 pm.
After decades of animal cruelty protests by LCA and other animal advocates, Ringling Bros. finally announced that it will end its elephant act and ‘retire’ 13 elephants currently traveling with the three Ringling Bros. circus units in May of 2016. They will join the rest of the Ringling Bros. herd for a total of 42 elephants at the Ringling Bros.’ Center for Elephant Conservation, a facility in Florida.
“Unfortunately, the elephants are ‘retiring’ to a place where they will be subjected to research, bull hooks, breeding, being chained up at night, and loaned to zoos,” stated DeRose.
LCA is urging Ringling Bros. to stop the breeding of elephants, provide the humane treatment they deserve, and let them live out their lives in peace.
“Elephants don’t forget the fear and traumatic abuse they were subjected to when they were originally trained to perform in the circus. Even Ringling is forced to recognize the world is changing its views on animal abuse and they had to adapt,” commented DeRose.
LCA was instrumental in helping to pass a law in Los Angeles that bans the use of bull hooks in traveling circuses. Many other cities and counties have passed “anti-elephant” ordinances that it became increasing difficult for Ringling to keep the elephant act.
“This is a big victory for elephants in entertainment, but long overdue,” continued DeRose, “Ringling Bros. is only retiring the elephant act because it has become cost prohibitive for them. They are not ending the act because they had a change of heart, but because the circus heard the outcry from activists and the general public. Still, the retirement is good news for the elephants who will no longer be forced to perform the ridiculous circus acts that are unnatural for them and are only brought about by fear, domination and beatings. We urge everyone to come on May 1 and support banning the use of all animals in circuses.”
A passionate animal activist and undercover investigator for over 30 years, DeRose was spied on by a Ringling Bros. operative in 1993, and secretly videotaped discussing his views on cruelty to elephants within the circus. This undercover footage of DeRose is featured in the 2015 documentary film Tyke Elephant Outlaw, available on Netflix, and on LCA's YouTube channel.
To view more on LCA’s 30-year history of fighting to ban elephants in circuses, click here.
Last Chance for Animals (LCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating animal exploitation through education, investigations, legislation, and public awareness campaigns. Since its formation in 1984, LCA has succeeded as one of the nation’s pioneer animal advocacy groups. LCA’s educational and public outreach programs have empowered the public to make positive changes for animals in their communities. For more information, please visit: http://www.lcanimal.org.
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