The Ringling Brothers Circus, a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, stands accused by animal advocates of torturing elephants and other animals with whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade. With this summer's circus season in full swing, the industry is already facing several fines nationwide levied for injuries and mistreatment of animals.

In Fresno, dozens of activists from throughout the Central Valley and the Bay Area joined Fresno Voices for Animals for five days of protests against Ringling Bros. On July 14th, five activists were arrested outside Selland Arena in downtown Fresno while protesting the circus. Despite this and repeated threats from Feld, arena officials, and Fresno police, activists persevered. They banged drums, displayed a twenty foot banner and numerous signs including a five foot tombstone listing animals that have died in Ringling's "care", took backstage photos of Ringling animal handlers with bullhooks, and handed out thousands of pieces of literature detailing the abuse of circus animals. Many patrons of Ringling/Feld stopped to learn more from activists about animal treatment in the circus, and many declared that this would be their last animal circus show.

Reports & Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 · Video

Upcoming Ringling Protest/Leafletting Schedules: Bay Area in August

Fresno Voices For Animals Circus Protests in 2004: 1 | 2
More Information on Animals in Circuses: Circuses.com