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http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=47878

Pol: Circus animals subjected to abuse

By Dave Wedge
Thursday, October 7, 2004

The circus is coming to town, but a state lawmaker - armed with video evidence he says shows show trainers tormenting elephants - wants to throw a spotlight on animal abuse under the Big Top.

Citing reports of abuse by trainers, including the 1999 drowning of a baby Asian elephant and a recent videotaped beating in Oakland, Calif., Sen. Robert Hedlund is calling for Massachusetts to become the first state to ban circus animals.

``I don't consider myself Mr. Kneejerk politically correct, which some would put this in the category of, and I'm by no means a raving animal rights activist. But there is a valid point about the inhumane nature in which many of these animals are treated,'' said Hedlund (D-Weymouth).

Hedlund's proposal calls for a statewide ban on the use of non-domesticated, exotic animals in circuses. Many cities and towns prohibit circus animals but there is no statewide ban. Hedlund's bill was originally launched last year but died in the Legislature.

Armed with new evidence of alleged animal abuse, Hedlund and the grassroots group circusspotlight.org are making another push. The group was expected to show videos and pictures of abuse at a press conference today as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus sets up for a series of shows at the FleetCenter.

Among the evidence is an August videotape of a Ringling Bros. trainer using a 3-foot pole to smack an Asian elephant on the trunk - the animal's most sensitive body part. There is also video of a drowned baby elephant, and federal documents reveal that a 2-year-old sick elephant died after being forced to perform against a veterinarian's advice. Ringling officials could not be reached for comment.

Hedlund said zoo experts have sided against the circus on the issue, saying their methods of transporting and training animals are cruel and arcane.