A German man, taking his regular morning stroll yesterday, was fatally trampled by a female African elephant which had escaped from a circus.
The 34-year-old elephant called Baby was later captured and returned to the circus.
But police are now investigating how the elephant got out of its enclosure and why it acted so aggressively, and whether someone forgot to shut the enclosure, or the elephant was released intentionally.
Apparently, the elephant had previously injured at least two people, including a man who was thrown in the air and a 12-year-old boy who suffered a broken jaw when he was hit by the animal's trunk.
The German branch of animal rights group Peta is urging the authorities to remove the elephant from the circus and place the disturbed creature in a wildlife park, where it will be free to roam amongst trees without any fear of reprisal.
Of course, I explored the subject in my futuristic series of novels co-written with Edith Parzefall. After the Great Flood, our group of characters meet strange animals roaming in the forest that covers the land. You can see the novels on one page at Double Dragon Publishing.
The 34-year-old elephant called Baby was later captured and returned to the circus.
But police are now investigating how the elephant got out of its enclosure and why it acted so aggressively, and whether someone forgot to shut the enclosure, or the elephant was released intentionally.
Apparently, the elephant had previously injured at least two people, including a man who was thrown in the air and a 12-year-old boy who suffered a broken jaw when he was hit by the animal's trunk.
The German branch of animal rights group Peta is urging the authorities to remove the elephant from the circus and place the disturbed creature in a wildlife park, where it will be free to roam amongst trees without any fear of reprisal.
Of course, I explored the subject in my futuristic series of novels co-written with Edith Parzefall. After the Great Flood, our group of characters meet strange animals roaming in the forest that covers the land. You can see the novels on one page at Double Dragon Publishing.
Why do some people think animals should parade in front of us for our entertainment?
On March 15, Ringling Bros. announced the end of their elephant act. For decades, Last Chance for Animals and other groups strove to expose the hidden abuse of animals in circuses. Because these animals have been conditioned through violent training sessions, they know that refusal to obey in the ring will result in severe punishment later. Last Chance says elephants are trained with violence, and only perform out of fear. Ripped from their mothers as babies, they live their days in confinement and misery instead of roaming the wilds as elephants should.
Here's an excerpt from Born Free:
On March 15, Ringling Bros. announced the end of their elephant act. For decades, Last Chance for Animals and other groups strove to expose the hidden abuse of animals in circuses. Because these animals have been conditioned through violent training sessions, they know that refusal to obey in the ring will result in severe punishment later. Last Chance says elephants are trained with violence, and only perform out of fear. Ripped from their mothers as babies, they live their days in confinement and misery instead of roaming the wilds as elephants should.
Here's an excerpt from Born Free:
#Globally, thousands of wild animals are still forced to perform demeaning and unnatural tricks to entertain the public. They are exploited in travelling circuses, side-shows and within zoos, and used in advertising, film and television.
Animals are often made to perform ‘stunts’ and ‘humanised’ behaviours that are completely against their nature. Parrots riding bicycles, elephants standing on their heads or walking a tightrope, chimpanzees smoking cigarettes, and tigers jumping through hoops of fire are just some of the examples.
The training of wild animals often relies heavily on physical domination and fear, in an attempt to ensure the constant attention and compliance of the animal in front of an audience or camera. There have been numerous undercover investigations and reports from ex-trainers revealing evidence of systematic mistreatment and animal abuse.
In circuses, animals are transported from location to location, repeatedly loaded and unloaded, kept in small beast-wagons or chained within trucks. Similarly, animals used in the film industry are also routinely confined to cages between “takes”. Research has shown that spending many hours travelling or confined to a small and unnatural environment can cause heightened stress responses in an animal, resulting in serious negative welfare impacts. Training, boredom and the frustration in trying to cope with these unnatural conditions often result in an animal developing abnormal behaviours.
Born Free believes that it is outdated and unacceptable to use wild animals in circuses or to market products by making animals perform unnatural behaviours. Such acts misrepresent the true nature of the animals; require the animals to be subjected to an unnatural and often abusive lifestyle; and undermine public respect for the natural world. Born Free challenges the use of wild animals in circuses and performance, raises awareness about the issues, and campaigns for national and international legislation to bring this practice to an end.# Source: Born Free.
Some circuses in Britain currently tour with wild animals, including zebras, lions, snakes, tigers and camels. Circus animals are protected by the Animal Welfare Act. Wild animals must be licensed but there is no law to stop circuses using certain types of animals.
But, as Born Free purports, we should leave animals in the wild. It breaks my heart to consider how these animals are treated. Surely mankind should live up to it's name and be KIND.
What do you think about keeping animals for our entertainment?
But, as Born Free purports, we should leave animals in the wild. It breaks my heart to consider how these animals are treated. Surely mankind should live up to it's name and be KIND.
What do you think about keeping animals for our entertainment?
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