The circus has rolled into the Triangle along with some controversy.
PETA protested outside the RBC Center Wednesday where the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was beginning a five-day run.
Virginia Fort, a senior campaigner with PETA, said the organization shot undercover video of circus workers hitting animals with sharp metal “bull hooks” and has pictures of elephants tied with ropes.
“Elephants and other animals are kept in box cars and tiny trailers, and they are beaten in order to force them to perform very confusing, very physically challenging tricks. All for a few cheap laughs,” she said.
Ryan Henning, an animal care specialist with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, said workers do use tools and ropes to train the animals, but that the animals are comfortable and not hurt. He said they mostly respond to verbal commands.
“We do use guides when working with elephants. It’s a tool that’s been around many, many years. It’s simply the length of our arm; it’s the thickness of our finger. It’s got a rounded point at the end, and it’s simply used to guide the elephant like reigns on a horse or a leash on a dog,” Henning said.
Henning added, “Ropes are standard in training. Whether it’s with an elephant; we use ropes with horses, with camels, giraffes, elephants. It’s a standard tool used with training animals.
“I believe they’re cotton ropes as well. My clothes are cotton, they’re pretty comfortable. I believe the pictures, as well, are in sand. So, that’s pretty comfortable as well.”
However, Fort contested, “Once people learn what’s going on behind the scenes at Ringling Bros. Circus, they don’t want to support such a cruel industry.”
Henning stands by how the animals are treated.
“We spend 24/7 with these guys, providing them with fresh food and water, plenty of exercise, safety, veterinarian care around the clock, 24/7. So these guys have it made,” Henning said.
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