Comments on: Death of Shrine Circus Elephant Handler Mirrors SeaWorld Orca Tragedy http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/ In Defense of Animals Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:08:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Tyke’s Legacy http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/#comment-1454 Tyke’s Legacy Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:11:48 +0000 http://www.idanews.org/?p=776#comment-1454 [...] Viola was injured when she fell down a steep embankment in her attempt to flee. Another elephant, Dumbo lashed out and killed her longtime [...] [...] Viola was injured when she fell down a steep embankment in her attempt to flee. Another elephant, Dumbo lashed out and killed her longtime [...]

]]> By: S Morris http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/#comment-750 S Morris Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:40:53 +0000 http://www.idanews.org/?p=776#comment-750 Seems like animals are getting fed up with humans making a mockery of them. Yay for the animals! I'M ALL FOR THE ANIMALS! Seems like animals are getting fed up with humans making a mockery of them. Yay for the animals! I’M ALL FOR THE ANIMALS!

]]> By: Fran Hoef-Bouchard http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/#comment-737 Fran Hoef-Bouchard Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:30:29 +0000 http://www.idanews.org/?p=776#comment-737 Now the circus has to find an excuse for this incident, they will blame it on poor Dumbo and have him destroyed, because they, the circus will refuse to admit that having these animals in captivity, under unnatural conditions, is the real problem. To admit anything else would be holding themselves responsible, and everyone knows that is never going to happen. So Dumbo will pay the ultimate price with his life, because these criminals are allowed to get away with this. And let us not forget the paying ignorant public who has to be entertained 24/7, they too are to blame for this situation. People as a whole are not particularly bright, and its a certain segment of our society that demand to see large wild animals do stupid tricks. If you show these same people videos of people slamming into brick walls they will give you the same enthusiastic response, so changing their perception definitely would be a hard sell. They can't help themselves, they are dull and stupid. We live in a nation of idiots. I am angry that this has happened once again, and I know it won't be the last. Now the circus has to find an excuse for this incident, they will blame it on poor Dumbo and have him destroyed, because they, the circus will refuse to admit that having these animals in captivity, under unnatural conditions, is the real problem. To admit anything else would be holding themselves responsible, and everyone knows that is never going to happen. So Dumbo will pay the ultimate price with his life, because these criminals are allowed to get away with this. And let us not forget the paying ignorant public who has to be entertained 24/7, they too are to blame for this situation. People as a whole are not particularly bright, and its a certain segment of our society that demand to see large wild animals do stupid tricks. If you show these same people videos of people slamming into brick walls they will give you the same enthusiastic response, so changing their perception definitely would be a hard sell. They can’t help themselves, they are dull and stupid. We live in a nation of idiots. I am angry that this has happened once again, and I know it won’t be the last.

]]> By: lisa white http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/#comment-736 lisa white Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:22:22 +0000 http://www.idanews.org/?p=776#comment-736 Elephants should not be in circuses or zoos, no animal should be. Unfortunately they have been ripped from their homes and families and suffer horribly so the only safe and humane place for an elephant in this country is a sanctuary where they are free to roam and act as normal as possible. I can't believe that people continue to patronize circuses and zoos knowing that these animals suffer every single day and they are ticking time bombs. When will people learn. If these places aren't making money they will cease to exist. People need to wake up and smell the coffee! Elephants should not be in circuses or zoos, no animal should be. Unfortunately they have been ripped from their homes and families and suffer horribly so the only safe and humane place for an elephant in this country is a sanctuary where they are free to roam and act as normal as possible. I can’t believe that people continue to patronize circuses and zoos knowing that these animals suffer every single day and they are ticking time bombs. When will people learn. If these places aren’t making money they will cease to exist. People need to wake up and smell the coffee!

]]> By: Carol Ammens http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/#comment-735 Carol Ammens Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:28:50 +0000 http://www.idanews.org/?p=776#comment-735 As long as we continue to keep wild animals in inappropriate domestic settings, these tragedies will continue to happen. But the biggest tragedy is not the humans who can choose to make a living dominating traumatized elephants and, therefore, take the risk. The biggest tragedy is that we still continue to allow animals in circuses where they are stripped of every bit of their quality of life and everything that is instinctual to them to perform silly tricks for clueless, ignorant people in the circus. If the country of India can order all elephants out of zoos and circuses, we should be able to do the same. And yet, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture can't even be bothered to enforce the Animal Welfare Act and continues to stand by while these animals are driven crazy and die by inches each day in the circus. As long as we continue to keep wild animals in inappropriate domestic settings, these tragedies will continue to happen. But the biggest tragedy is not the humans who can choose to make a living dominating traumatized elephants and, therefore, take the risk. The biggest tragedy is that we still continue to allow animals in circuses where they are stripped of every bit of their quality of life and everything that is instinctual to them to perform silly tricks for clueless, ignorant people in the circus. If the country of India can order all elephants out of zoos and circuses, we should be able to do the same. And yet, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture can’t even be bothered to enforce the Animal Welfare Act and continues to stand by while these animals are driven crazy and die by inches each day in the circus.

]]> By: Meredith Buist http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/#comment-734 Meredith Buist Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:08:36 +0000 http://www.idanews.org/?p=776#comment-734 Everyone needs a reality check when it comes to animal welfare around the world. Of course elephants shouldn't be taken from their mothers out of their natural habitat and exploited for human entertainment. Why should they be??? To make money??? That is outrageous!! How can this still be legal? Circus acts that involve any animals need to be shut down. It's outdated and cruel to treat any living being like a slave. All the remaining elephants in these "acts" should be sent to sanctuaries where they can live like elephants should. Everyone needs a reality check when it comes to animal welfare around the world. Of course elephants shouldn’t be taken from their mothers out of their natural habitat and exploited for human entertainment. Why should they be??? To make money??? That is outrageous!! How can this still be legal? Circus acts that involve any animals need to be shut down. It’s outdated and cruel to treat any living being like a slave. All the remaining elephants in these “acts” should be sent to sanctuaries where they can live like elephants should.

]]> By: Kathleen Wattle http://www.idanews.org/ida-breaking-news/death-of-shrine-circus-elephant-handler-mirrors-seaworld-orca-tragedy/#comment-733 Kathleen Wattle Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:51:34 +0000 http://www.idanews.org/?p=776#comment-733 I agree wholeheartedly that is is wrong and unsafe to use elephants (and big cats for that matter) for circus acts. These are wild animals, even if born in captivity, and should not be treated so inhumanely with little room to move, act normally and pressured constantly to perform. I am not against elephants in captivity - it's good to be able to see them and look in awe on them in a natural type of setting such as a very well made zoo or even better at a preserve or sanctuary. But the nature of traveling circus shows with cramped quarters, constant movement, unrelenting performances - it's just not right to do this to these animals. Not only it is ethically wrong, it's patently unsafe to act so aggressively towards them (just the fact of pushing them to "perform" is aggressive enough) and then place them in the public view where handlers and the public can be hurt or killed. We need to stop this and bring traveling circuses into the 21st century where they rely upon the wondrous entertainment acts of man to dazzle the audiences. Cirque du Soleil is a good example of this with its acrobats and contortionist dancers. Even the Cirque du Soleil production Cavalia showcasing the magnificent beauty of horses and the delightful partnership with caring horsemen is a wonderful example of how to treat animals properly and show the world their beauty as well. I agree wholeheartedly that is is wrong and unsafe to use elephants (and big cats for that matter) for circus acts. These are wild animals, even if born in captivity, and should not be treated so inhumanely with little room to move, act normally and pressured constantly to perform. I am not against elephants in captivity – it’s good to be able to see them and look in awe on them in a natural type of setting such as a very well made zoo or even better at a preserve or sanctuary. But the nature of traveling circus shows with cramped quarters, constant movement, unrelenting performances – it’s just not right to do this to these animals.

Not only it is ethically wrong, it’s patently unsafe to act so aggressively towards them (just the fact of pushing them to “perform” is aggressive enough) and then place them in the public view where handlers and the public can be hurt or killed. We need to stop this and bring traveling circuses into the 21st century where they rely upon the wondrous entertainment acts of man to dazzle the audiences. Cirque du Soleil is a good example of this with its acrobats and contortionist dancers. Even the Cirque du Soleil production Cavalia showcasing the magnificent beauty of horses and the delightful partnership with caring horsemen is a wonderful example of how to treat animals properly and show the world their beauty as well.

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