Ring of Cruelty - An Investigation into Animal Circuses in Ireland in 2006

Elephants

Of all species used in circuses around the world, elephants are perhaps the animals that raise most concerns about their welfare.

Samantha Lindley: “Now consider the elephant – non domesticated, complex, intelligent, physically massive, with a requirement for the company of its own kind (more than one), ranges of space, access to water and dust bathing, surfaces to rub against for skin health and a variety of surfaces for foot health. … Elephants are singularly unsuited to circus life..”

Elephant headstand, Circus Vegas

Elephant chained, Circus Sydney

Close-up of deformed leg

Elephant headstand, Royal Russian Circus

There are six elephants in Irish circuses:

• Royal Russian Circus - two elephants (one Asian, one African)
• Circus Sydney - two African elephants*
• Circus Vegas - two Asian elephants

The Acts
The elephants in all three circuses were made to perform the usual circus tricks of walking across pedestals, standing / sitting on pedestals and raising legs. In some cases the animals were clearly reluctant to carry out the acts, resulting in pushing and prodding from their handlers and use of sticks / ankus (elephant hook).

Tricks such as balancing on front legs, (a sort of elephant handstand), “puts unnatural and dangerous weight on the front legs” and “is unwarranted and potentially dangerous.”

Welfare concerns
Acts at Circus Sydney were of particular concern.  An act where an elephant thrashes her trunk around and moves her head violently from side to side (mimicking a dance) are completely unnatural movements and run the risk of damaging the trunk musculature and nerve supply, putting unnecessary strain on neck muscles and cervical spine, and contributing to ‘trunk paralysis’. “These are not normal behaviours for an elephant; they represent potential injury and suffering and should be stopped.”

The African male has a deformed left hind foot (see image right), but is still made to perform in the ring and travel long

distances frequently, in addition to being chained up for long periods of time.

Chained
It is usual for elephants in circuses to be chained when not performing or training. Metal chains are attached to one front and one back leg, the animals unable to move more than a step backwards or forwards.

The Circus Sydney elephants were chained in this way during our investigation. Both elephants were displaying typical stereotypic behaviours of weaving and head bobbing.

Elephants at the Royal Russian Circus and Circus Vegas were not chained during our visits. They were in small fields but with no shade, shelter, or obvious enrichment. The availability of grazing or exercise areas will vary from site to site.

*In August 2006, a few days before the male elephant was due to have a veterinary examination (arranged by the Dublin Society for the Protection of Animals), both elephants at Circus Sydney were returned to Germany.

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