Los Angeles may ban circus elephants

[No Elephants]

Published: Dec. 26, 2012 at 2:14 PM

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Los Angeles could become the first major U.S. city to ban elephant acts in circuses if it passes a measure backers say will eventually be adopted "universally."

The city council is expected to vote early in the new year on an ordinance that could force the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus either to drop its annual stop in the country's second-largest city or pull one of its most popular acts, the New York Times reported.

Paul Koretz, the councilman who sponsored the ordinance banning elephants, predicted other big cities will follow suit if Los Angeles acts.

"At some point, this will be universally banned throughout the country," he said. "The treatment of elephants in traveling circuses is one of the crueler practices, and it's time for us to stand up for them."

Elephants have been used for centuries as work animals, for military purposes and for human entertainment. The Carthaginian general Hannibal used war elephants to cross the Pyrenees and Alps and invade Italy in 218 B.C.

Stephen Payne, a spokesman for Feld Entertainment, which owns the Ringling Bros. circus, said its animals are well-treated, with regular inspections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He said giving people a chance to see elephants is likely to make them more concerned about conservation.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/12/26/Los-Angeles-may-ban-circus-elephants/UPI-41931356549240/#ixzz2GEf10tkH


"War elephants," outside the context of Republican chickenhawks, is one of the more stupid phrases I've seen lately--and that is saying a lot because stupid phrases abound in today's media.

My screen name refers to Republicans, not to animals.

Elephants just may be my favorite large animal. A neighbor when I was in elementary school had a collection of little elephant figurines on display and I fell totally in love with them. And, once I fall totally in love, it's for life. That's why I can say I have been a Democrat since the age of five. I just wish I could find Democrats within the Democratic Party.

But, I digress.


I am not sure how best to protect elephants from people who kill them in their natural habitats for ivory or other profit motives, as well as from people who drive them twitchy by confinement and beat them in order to profit from them in zoos and as performers, but I sure wish someone would figure it out.

Soon.

[Enthusiast]

1. I'm the same about elephants.

I would have no problem shooting and elephant poacher on sight. Wanton cruelty is very disturbing to me. But cruelty to elephants especially so. The GOP doesn't deserve an elephant.

[No Elephants]

3. And the Democrats don't deserve a jackass.

Of course, that can be taken in more than one way. :evilgrin:

[Divine Discontent]

2. you do love for life, NE, I can tell!

and I agree with our esteemed colleague below, the GOP doesn't deserve the Ellie

[No Elephants]

4. I don't even like to swat a bee.

I just try to outrun them!

On the other hand, I don't bring home stray animals--though I don't see many in Boston, anyway--and I have never thought of starting a shelter for animals, like Melanie Griffin's mom did.

So, I guess I am somewhere in between?