Dn Jackson  | 15 Jan 2017 11:13 p.m. PST |
A real shame, after 146 years Ringling Brothers is closing down. I went in my youth and have been taking my kids who really enjoy it. The animal rights groups that forced them to get rid of their elephants killed the show. No elephants led to declining ticket sales. Just couldn't make a profit any more. link |
| goragrad | 16 Jan 2017 1:05 a.m. PST |
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| Gunfreak | 16 Jan 2017 3:13 a.m. PST |
Abusing animals for fun, is never good. |
| Ed Mohrmann | 16 Jan 2017 3:29 a.m. PST |
Absolutely – leave 'em in the wild for the ivory poachers |
 20thmaine | 16 Jan 2017 5:28 a.m. PST |
Alternatively – leave them in the wild and protect them from poaching whilst building a profitable tourist trade based on seeing one of the most stupendous creatures to grace the earth. |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 16 Jan 2017 7:00 a.m. PST |
Abusing animals for fun, is never good. Better give up your dogs, then… |
| Gunfreak | 16 Jan 2017 8:21 a.m. PST |
So you claim I abuse my dogs? |
| Zyphyr | 16 Jan 2017 9:34 a.m. PST |
According to the groups that led the charge against Ringling Brothers, the very act of owning animals is inherently abusive. |
| Gunfreak | 16 Jan 2017 10:21 a.m. PST |
The very act of abusing the animals is abuse. The owner admitted to real abuse. I don't care about peta fantasies. The keeping of elephants in circuses have been band in many European countries. Based on the animal welfare laws. With no involvement of peta or other extremist organisations. |
| Dn Jackson | 16 Jan 2017 11:53 p.m. PST |
"Alternatively – leave them in the wild and protect them from poaching whilst building a profitable tourist trade based on seeing one of the most stupendous creatures to grace the earth." Far, far more kids got a chance to see these animals in the circus than will ever be able to travel to Africa to see them. This way only rich people get to see them. |
| Gunfreak | 17 Jan 2017 2:33 a.m. PST |
Travle to Africa is getting more and more affordable. Also animal welfare always win over children's fleeting enjoyment. |
| 20thmaine | 17 Jan 2017 6:22 a.m. PST |
There's quite a lot of Asian elephants too…maybe Europeans and Americans lose out on seeing elephants close up in circuses, but…so what? There are still wildlife parks in the USA with something more like a natural environment. Elephants are big creatures that naturally roam some tens of miles a day. I don't buy the argument that they are better off fed and watered in a cage. They might live longer – heck, I might live longer fed and watered in a cage – but what kind of life is that ? Prison life. With tricks. |
| Gunfreak | 17 Jan 2017 6:32 a.m. PST |
They generally don't live longer. Even if you don't physically abuse them. The general stress and unnatural environment. Means they live shorter. Some say a circus elephant on average lives 14 years in a circus. While in the wild they live for 70 years some time even longer. |
| 20thmaine | 17 Jan 2017 6:44 a.m. PST |
In which case I retract that suggestion! I prefer facts to wild guesses or assumptions – even if they are my wild guesses & assumptions. Turns out the same is true in zoos : link A particular problem in the USA's zoos is obesity… |
| Dn Jackson | 20 Jan 2017 6:21 a.m. PST |
Actually, RB won a $16 USD million dollar settlement against PETA for defamation for the lies they told about elephant abuse. |
| Gunfreak | 20 Jan 2017 9:29 a.m. PST |
This isn't based on peta link |
