Ringling Brothers Agree to USDA Fine for Allegedly Mistreating Animals
Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, agreed to settle on United States government claims of animal mistreatment for $270,000.
Although the entertainment company refused to admit they mishandle the animals, they paid the civil fine suggested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - the most ever paid by a violator of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Feld Entertainment defended the settlement and allegations.
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"It was more important to focus on the future of its business by continuing to provide the best animal care possible instead of engaging in costly and protracted litigation,” said the company.
Besides the financial punishment, Ringling Brothers must also establish mandatory annual compliance measures for all staff that encounters the animals.
The USDA has been building the case against the popular circus for some time, obtaining reports of cuts on the elephants’ faces, zebras escaping several times, the circus forcing animals to perform despite their illnesses, and other egregious breaches of animals’ rights.
The information was obtained over the course of four months, when one of the circus’ units was inspected 82 times by 18 different agencies.
Steve Payne, a spokesperson for Feld Entertainment, commented on the frequent inspections: “We’re highly regulated. We accept that regulation. We embrace it,” according to MSNBC News.
The reports uncovered actions that could injure or otherwise harm the animals, like fiberglass hanging over food supplies, rodent feces in feeding containers, and the same wheelbarrows used to transport both tiger food and waste.
The violations were documented from June 2007 to August 2011 could have also been partially revealed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Although they were never involved in any legal proceedings, PETA said the fine was a victory for animals’ rights.
"PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. with regard to crippled elephants, the death of a baby elephant, the beating of other elephants, and the killing of a lion, going back several years, have resulted in the biggest fine in circus history," said the organization’s spokesperson Colleen O’Brien to MSNBC News.
PETA also called for the USDA to confiscate the circus’ elephants. This is not surprising, as the animal rights group’s slogan is: “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.”
The USDA feels they have done enough regarding the treatment of animals in the Ringling Brothers show, however.
"This settlement sends a direct message to the public and to those who exhibit animals that USDA will take all necessary steps to protect animals regulated under the Animal Welfare Act,” said the USDA.
