PETA to USDA: File Charges Against Ringling Bros.

July 15, 2004

Chester A. Gipson, DVM
Associate Deputy Administrator
USDA-APHIS-VS
4700 River Rd., Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1232


Dear Dr. Gipson:

According to a whistleblower, a young, healthy lion under the care and handling of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (52-C-0137) died yesterday.

The complainant reported that the lion, named Clyde, died in his transport cage in a poorly ventilated boxcar while the circus was traveling from Phoenix, Ariz., to Fresno, Calif. The circus was crossing the Mohave Desert, where temperatures reached at least 100°F on Monday, July 12. The lions were on the train for three days without being checked or provided with water. The circus train stopped just before arriving in Fresno, and Clyde’s dead body was discovered. This lion is believed to have died from heatstroke and dehydration. Circus officials reportedly brought in a U-Haul to remove his corpse and are attempting to cover up his death.

This incident is nearly identical to a July 2000 tragedy in which two of Ringling’s tigers injured themselves in attempting to escape from cages in an overheated boxcar. The USDA cited Ringling for failure to provide adequate care in transit, failure to provide drinking water, and failure to maintain transport enclosures. The tigers were in immediate danger because of an excessive rise in temperature.

We ask that this incident be investigated and charges filed against Ringling for its chronic failure to provide adequate care in transit. Please inform me of the USDA’s actions in this case.

Sincerely,
Debbie Leahy, Director
Captive Animals & Entertainment Issues Department