Stardust Circus has announced on social media that it will be removing all elephant acts from its shows starting now. This announcement comes after animal activist groups such as PETA worked hard to block the circus from holding scheduled shows earlier this year.
“Unfortunately activists make it very difficult to travel with animals today,” said a representative of Stardust.
The elephants previously used are owned by Carson and Barnes Circus. This outfit has repeatedly been fined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for failing to meet animal welfare standards over the last two decades. They have been penalised for over 100 different infractions, including not giving elephants access to needed veterinary care, not providing clean water and safe enclosures for their animals, and mishandling the elephants under their care.
Habi Omar, an elephant trainer who works with Stardust, has previously been filmed abusing the elephants with bullhooks, and reportedly uses electric cattle prods to dominate these beautiful animals.
Last year, veterinarian Philip K. Ensley performed a welfare assessment on two of the elephants, Libby and Bunny, leased out to Garden Bros. Circus from Carson & Barnes. The report summarized that the elephants were “abused, injured, harmed and harassed, suffering physically, in a state of psychological deterioration, and compromised welfare attributable to their standard of care and living conditions controlled by use of a bullhook.”
Captive elephants are prone to a variety of health problems, most notably foot health issues. Lack of appropriate exercise on natural substrates combined with long periods of standing on hard surfaces such as concrete can cause lifelong damage to the feet of an elephant.
Circus elephants are chained for long periods of time and forced to perform with bullhooks. They have no choice but to exhibit unnatural behaviours over and over again, day after day, before being returned to their cramped enclosures to wait for the next show.
“Their natural behavior as elephants is disrupted to the point where they experience permanent harm,” stated the above report.
Many states in America have already banned the use of elephants for entertainment. Illinois was the first state to enact such a ban, and similar bills are underway in other states. New York City has banned wild animals in circuses, and 125 other local areas have passed restrictions, as well.
In spite of this promising trend, PETA report that there are still around 50 elephants in travelling shows throughout the U.S. But thanks to the hard work of animal activists, and the willingness of the public to speak out against these cruel shows, Stardust will not be using elephants again.
Anyone who can help guide me.. I have been trying to explain to ppl how horrible the circus is where I live but it’s so popular. Makes it even more disgusting. The shrine circus is in town this weekend and the center holding the event just posted a video that I believe are these elephants.
I’m having a hard time tracking down where the elephants came from and who their handler is. Before I make a post in my Facebook groups I’d like to know more. ..
Anyone who has been following Libby and Bunny please guide me!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157791184992925&id=245530157924
Great news; hope they will go to a sanctuary.
People…we all can stop animal abuse/cruelty. We can BOYCOTT any animal show/entertainment & poorly kept zoo! Keep on protesting animal abuse. Keep on demanding animal protection…strong ENFORCEABLE laws to protect animals.
Hallelujuah! At least perhaps we’re inching in the right direction! So happy for Libby & Bunny & so thankful for animal acvtivists.
I have been following Libby and Bunny for some time now and am absolutely elated they will no longer be performing! However, this article doesn’t say where they will be. Omar has abused them long enough on a daily basis, will they be removed and placed in a safe environment, like a reputable sanctuary where they can receive the mental, physical, and social needs they deserve?
Shana Kelly!! And anyone else that can offer advice..the event center where I live just posted a video of these two. I’m in a state where animal cruelty is rarely enforce.. mainly bc it’s an agricultural state.
Please guide me in what I can do to help awaken the people here. Is there anyway I can confirm the animal exibitors at this show?
I’m looki
BUT where will they be going from here???? Hopefully an Elephant Sanctuary like the one the Toronto Zoo sent theirs too, thanks to “Bob Barker” the previous ‘Price is Right’ host. He rallied for their move and even helped finance the move to I believe California where the climate was obviously better than Canada’s COLD.
Carson and Barnes Circus are leading these elephants to the Shriners Circus to perform. I live in Spartanburg SC and they are performing in the upstate until the end of March. They are being kept in a small tarp covered enclosure at the back of Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. They are chained outside in the cold on the hard asphalt all day. Don’t let Carson and Barnes fool you! These poor elephants are still being forced to perform!!
I live in Spartanburg SC and unfortunately Libby and Bunny are performing here at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium with the Shriners Circus. I saw them today and they are being kept in a small tarp enclosure behind the venue in a parking lot. It is disgusting and cruel. People just don’t want to really see what goes on behind the scenes. Circuses need to disappear. For me, it can’t happen fast enough.
Qué alegría!!!
Sono felicissima ,sempre con voi PETA !!!!!!!!!
YEA! I am so very Happy to know this circus decided to no longer use Elephants in their circus performances. More states are approving to ban circuses. It will happen and it is only a matter of time that traveling circus will be shut down. Now, we all need to Shut Down, Carson and Barnes Circus, Garden Brothers Circus, and all the others. Also, Elephants should not be allowed to perform at fairs, roadside carnivals, renaissance fairs, and any event that showcases animals for money and public viewing.
This is Great news I am thrilled. Its about time. Better late than never! Carson and Barnes Circus has been a problem for years. They are terrible and abusive. They Never cared for these elephants and I think these beautiful elephants have filled their greedy pockets far to long. They have suffered long enough under Carson and Barnes.I’d like to see them close their doors as there are other abused animals there. We need to see them get free also. People have to see that circus and all the rest of them that have animals are abused. They need to Stop support these places by not going. This well help close them down. I agree with Debra
GREAT NEWS –LETS CONTINUE TO BRING MORE VICTORIS FOR THE SAKE OF ALL ANIMALS !!THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS YOU
That’s right Leanne and people should stop going to these live animal shows to start supporting these animals. Watch videos to learn about animals if that’s what it takes. It is not worth capturing animals out of their natural habitants, separating them from their families, chaining them up, torturing them to make them perform, all so that people can be entertained. People get to laugh and eat popcorn while these animals are suffering and made to suffer if they don’t perform and act right. And they wonder why animals rebel and kill their owners Duh! I would rebel too. Then they are labeled as killers as soon as they kill or hurt someone. Don’t support these circuses anymore please. I don’t go to anything that have live animals. I love animals very much, which is why I don’t go. I can’t stand seeing them constrained and caged up. I am happy that these elephants don’t have to perform anymore. Now send them to a very, very, very nice sanctuay where they can live out good lives that they deserve, away from people. I know their ordeal has left emotional scars that will probably be with them for a lifetime.
Now we all need to pursue getting these elephants to sanctuary!!! How do we do that?
Finally!
Great news! I hope these elephants will live happily ever after! They deserve that.
~ Bless them for making this decision ~ Albeit it took pressure from Activists to draw the attention to their suffering ~ Thank you everyone who played role is helping this come to fruition ~ Be in Hope ~ mgf
My love and thoughts are with you. You now are free enjoy life all of you and full-fill your dreams. God bless xx
Hopefully they will get a lot of love and care now, in a sanctuary.
Thank God!¡
HAPPY DANCE FOR ELEPHANT BUNNY AND LILY AND ALL THE OTHERS!!
ALL ANIMALS IN ANY KIND OF ANIMAL CIRCUSES NEED TO BE RESCUED AND SAVED!
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE FINED AND JAILED AND HAVE THE DONE SAME TO THEM!
IF THEIR SELLING TICKETS, OR THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY WITH THE ANIMALS, I DON’T CARE,
YOU HAVE ANYTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THESE PLACES THEN YOU NEED TO BE PUNISHED!!
Yessssssssssssssssss je suis content con laisse les éléphants tranquille
Where are the animals going to? Please don’t say back to the owners!
Wonderful News. Are the going to be able to go to a sanctuary now?
GREAT NEWS! IT IS ABOUT TIME.
Well we can thank Barnum for this cruel act. And the people of America who initially supported it
There is no reason a child can not watch a video we do not need to see these creatures up close and personal. God didn’t intend us to.
If we stop supporting circus they will be forced to shut down.
We need more than just a nan. The elephants should be required to go to sanctuary. It seems as though they just get tossed back and forth from circus to circus.
Hopefully the cruel owners will find it in their hearts to let these wonderful animals spend their retirement days in a sanctuary… they aren’t making them any money
Yes, I Boycott the circus and my local state fair,
For elephants and the tiger shows.
The ONLY way to prevent this happening is for people to absolutely boycott any circus which has any animal acts. Only then will circus owners get the message.
About time that this type of entertainment was banned , give these poor animals refuge after so much illtreatment.
When will people learn we should be protecting and nurturing animals. It is our duty!
Yes it is about time!!
Finally the time has come when circuses, carnivals and organizations, that have live animal performances, are coming to an end. Bears, elephants, lions, tigers, and chimpanzees are going to be free of abuse once and for all.
All of these wild animals will be able to be put into sanctuaries so they can have a life, finally that is their own.
One down and more to go. I hope that every other circus follows suit and not wait another years to do it. These poor elephants have suffered long enough, have the decency to give them a chance at freedom for once in their life, enough exploitation.
Yayyyyyy. Save all precious Ellies’. ??????
Wonderful news! Thanks Peta! Keep up the presure for the remaining 50 Elephants that are still being abused!
Thank You Dear GOD, YES!
Jippii ! Animals win !
Thank you for freeing them of this cruelty. Now set them free to a sanctuary so they may finally know the peace the deserve.
Way to go guys! Keep up the great work everyone appreciates it! Take care Coreen
Thank you God! Thank you animal rights activists! This is beautiful news! THANK YOU AMEN!
Resa, you said exactly what I was thinking! So very, very proud of those activists — here’s to PETA!!! Bravo!!!
I am so glad that Stardust Circus is getting rid of its elephant acts but what of its other animal acts if any?
Thank God animal activists are making it difficult for circus’ to retain their animal acts. Even if the animals had been treated right and received proper care, it is still unnatural to cage them and have them perform tricks for human entertainment!! ?????????????
Great news!! Any word….regarding what will happen to Bunny & Libby? I pray they can be transported to an Elephant Sanctuary! Now…let’s get those other 50 removed!!
That’s why we are advocates for those whom need a voice and representation.
AngelGuardians. PETA
The Galarneau family
Fortunately animal activists make it very difficult for you to travel with and abuse animals today…shame on you!