Circus Will Retire Elephants Because Of Concerns Over Cruelty

Ringling Bros. Will Remove Elephants From Circus In Three Years. On March 5, the Ringling Bros. announced they will remove the elephants from their circuses by 2018. The company told the Associated Press that the decision stemmed from “growing public concern about how the animals are treated.” [Associated Press, 3/5/15]

Concerns Were Raised Over Circus' Use Of Bullhooks, Chains To Control Elephants. Animal rights activists protested the company's use of bullhooks, a long pole with a hook attached, and chains to control and restrain the elephants. The Humane Society told PBS News that the elephants are “often on chains for 20 or 22 hours a day.” [PBS, 3/5/15]

Right-Wing Media Criticize Ringling Bros. Decision, Blaming “Liberalism”

Rush Limbaugh: Animal Rights Activists Demonize Humans, Enforced By “Ever-Expanding Government.” On the March 5 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show, Limbaugh argued that “professional leftist agitators” had fought for the elephants' removal, and that the animal rights activists were aiming to “demoniz[e] humans” :

I mean, banning elephants? Sidelining elephants from the circus because they're mistreated? Have you ever seen what an elephant does when you mistreat it? An elephant will literally kill you! It will stomp you and squish you flat. But the animal rights people have succeeded in their quest which -- in their specific case -- is the demonization of humans, and succeeding in the premise, advancing the premise that human beings are actually the problem in the world. And human beings are the people that need to be controlled. And human beings are the people that need to be policed. And human beings are the ones that are foiling nature. Human beings are destroying this and that and the other. Human beings are destroying the climate. Animals? Why, they're the essence of innocence, and everything they do is considered nature. They are incapable of harm because they are the essence of nature. Man -- not allowed to be considered part of nature. We destroy nature. We plunder nature. Hello, liberalism! And what's the authority that enforces all of this? An ever-expanding, growing government. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 3/5/15]

Sean Hannity: Ringling Bros. Now “The Wimpiest Show On Earth.” On the March 6 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Sean Hannity Show, Hannity mocked the decision, saying “the greatest show on Earth just became the wimpiest show on Earth” and warning that “the left are going to ban circuses and zoos.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/6/15]

Mark Levin: Due To “Typical Liberal Think,” The "Greatest Show On Earth Will No Longer Be The Greatest Show On Earth." Radio host Mark Levin blamed “typical liberal think” for the Ringling Bros.' decision to phase out elephants in the circus, saying that he knows the “elephants are well-kept” despite claims to the contrary. He declared that “the greatest show on earth will no longer be the greatest show on earth.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Mark Levin Show, 3/5/15]

New York Post Op-Ed: “Craven Capitulation” Of Ringling Bros Will “Embolden” Animal Rights Zealots." In an opinion piece for the New York Post, Steve Cuozzo argued the decision rendered Ringling Bros. the “greatest pushover on earth” :