AggieJohn
01-27-2005, 03:50 PM
Elephant Acts Are Dangerous, Cruel, Says PETA
For Immediate Release:
January 26, 2005
Contact:
Nicole Meyer 757-622-7382
College Station, Texas --- After learning about the annual "Elephant Walk" event to be held at Texas A&M University this Friday, PETA has fired off a letter to the school’s president, Dr. Robert Gates, warning him about the dangers of allowing the public to come into contact with elephants and urging him to use costumed characters instead. PETA has offered to donate costumes for the event.
PETA points out that elephants are wild animals who can be dangerous. Since 1990, elephant rampages have resulted in 65 deaths and more than 130 injuries to handlers and members of the public.
It’s no wonder that captive elephants eventually snap. They are forced to perform through intimidation and beatings. Bullhooks—rods with a sharp hook on the end—are ever-present in the hands of elephant handlers, who use them to jab elephants in the sensitive skin behind their ears and on their faces and legs, often causing bloody wounds.
"As an institution of higher learning, Texas A&M should teach students not to exploit animals for entertainment," says PETA’s elephant specialist Nicole Meyer. "For the safety of elephants and the public, it’s high time the ‘Elephant Walk’ was put out to pasture."
PETA’s letter to Dr. Robert Gates follows. A complete list of elephant rampages, as well as video footage showing elephants who are being beaten by trainers, can be found at Circuses.com.
January 26, 2005
Dr. Robert Gates, President
Office of the President
Texas A&M University
1126 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-1126
Dear Dr. Gates,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a nonprofit organization with more than 800,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection worldwide. It has come to our attention that the Texas A&M Class Council will be hosting its annual "Elephant Walk" on January 28, which includes live elephants for photo opportunities. In the interests of public safety and animal welfare, we ask that you abandon the use of elephants at this event.
Elephants who are forced to perform are trained to do so through domination and painful techniques. Please visit our Web site Circuses.com to view footage of behind-the-scenes elephant training that shows how trainers beat elephants with sharp metal bullhooks and shock them with electric prods. We hope you agree that this systematic abuse of elephants is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Elephants are wild animals, and their use in a public forum poses a significant danger. It is well known that stressed elephants rampage, and when they do, they are nearly impossible to stop without lethal force. Since 1990, rampages by captive elephants have resulted in 65 human deaths and more than 130 human injuries.
While upholding traditions is an important way to boost school spirit, the cruel and dangerous use of animals to support these traditions should be history. PETA would be happy to donate elephant costumes for this year’s "Elephant Walk."
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter. Please feel free to call me directly at 757-622-7382.
Sincerely,
Nicole Meyer, Elephant Specialist
Captive Exotic Animals Department
For Immediate Release:
January 26, 2005
Contact:
Nicole Meyer 757-622-7382
College Station, Texas --- After learning about the annual "Elephant Walk" event to be held at Texas A&M University this Friday, PETA has fired off a letter to the school’s president, Dr. Robert Gates, warning him about the dangers of allowing the public to come into contact with elephants and urging him to use costumed characters instead. PETA has offered to donate costumes for the event.
PETA points out that elephants are wild animals who can be dangerous. Since 1990, elephant rampages have resulted in 65 deaths and more than 130 injuries to handlers and members of the public.
It’s no wonder that captive elephants eventually snap. They are forced to perform through intimidation and beatings. Bullhooks—rods with a sharp hook on the end—are ever-present in the hands of elephant handlers, who use them to jab elephants in the sensitive skin behind their ears and on their faces and legs, often causing bloody wounds.
"As an institution of higher learning, Texas A&M should teach students not to exploit animals for entertainment," says PETA’s elephant specialist Nicole Meyer. "For the safety of elephants and the public, it’s high time the ‘Elephant Walk’ was put out to pasture."
PETA’s letter to Dr. Robert Gates follows. A complete list of elephant rampages, as well as video footage showing elephants who are being beaten by trainers, can be found at Circuses.com.
January 26, 2005
Dr. Robert Gates, President
Office of the President
Texas A&M University
1126 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-1126
Dear Dr. Gates,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a nonprofit organization with more than 800,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection worldwide. It has come to our attention that the Texas A&M Class Council will be hosting its annual "Elephant Walk" on January 28, which includes live elephants for photo opportunities. In the interests of public safety and animal welfare, we ask that you abandon the use of elephants at this event.
Elephants who are forced to perform are trained to do so through domination and painful techniques. Please visit our Web site Circuses.com to view footage of behind-the-scenes elephant training that shows how trainers beat elephants with sharp metal bullhooks and shock them with electric prods. We hope you agree that this systematic abuse of elephants is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Elephants are wild animals, and their use in a public forum poses a significant danger. It is well known that stressed elephants rampage, and when they do, they are nearly impossible to stop without lethal force. Since 1990, rampages by captive elephants have resulted in 65 human deaths and more than 130 human injuries.
While upholding traditions is an important way to boost school spirit, the cruel and dangerous use of animals to support these traditions should be history. PETA would be happy to donate elephant costumes for this year’s "Elephant Walk."
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter. Please feel free to call me directly at 757-622-7382.
Sincerely,
Nicole Meyer, Elephant Specialist
Captive Exotic Animals Department