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Re: Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus to end shows in May 2017
Author: PITA Member
Date: 01-17-2017 - 18:57
J Mann Wrote:
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> PITA got their wishes and killed the circus. Now
> they are going after the zoos. If no one is
> exposed to elephants then how can they appreciate
> them enough to to protect them in the future? I
> wonder who will be paying for the elephant
> retirement place that Ringling Brothers was paying
> for? I doubt that PITA will pay so it will
> probably end up being the US taxpayers.
As a member of PITA (Pennsylvanians Interested in Trains & Animals), I have yet to see any evidence that there is a sudden groundswell of political pressure on African and Indian wildlife officials to protect elephants in their native habitats every time there is a circus performance. I also have yet to see any evidence of circus performances causing a surge of donations to organizations, such as the World Wildlife Federation, seeking to protect elephants.
While nothing beats seeing a large (or for that matter, any-sized) animal in person, I reject the implication that the only way to generate public interest in elephants or other fauna is through circuses. Plenty of wildlife conservation/protection initiatives are undertaken for animals not in circuses such as manatees, whales, Monarch butterflies and California condors.
I may have gone to a circus once or twice as a kid and I generally avoid zoos. But I did make a contribution to the World Wildlife Federation last year. Additionally, one of the reasons I am a member of the Sierra Club and joined the National Parks Conservation Association is to help protect wildlife habitats in the United States.
I don't know what's going to happen to the elephants used in the circuses, but yes US tax dollars currently help to protect and conserve many other kinds of animals in the National Parks. And I'm fine with that.
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> PITA got their wishes and killed the circus. Now
> they are going after the zoos. If no one is
> exposed to elephants then how can they appreciate
> them enough to to protect them in the future? I
> wonder who will be paying for the elephant
> retirement place that Ringling Brothers was paying
> for? I doubt that PITA will pay so it will
> probably end up being the US taxpayers.
As a member of PITA (Pennsylvanians Interested in Trains & Animals), I have yet to see any evidence that there is a sudden groundswell of political pressure on African and Indian wildlife officials to protect elephants in their native habitats every time there is a circus performance. I also have yet to see any evidence of circus performances causing a surge of donations to organizations, such as the World Wildlife Federation, seeking to protect elephants.
While nothing beats seeing a large (or for that matter, any-sized) animal in person, I reject the implication that the only way to generate public interest in elephants or other fauna is through circuses. Plenty of wildlife conservation/protection initiatives are undertaken for animals not in circuses such as manatees, whales, Monarch butterflies and California condors.
I may have gone to a circus once or twice as a kid and I generally avoid zoos. But I did make a contribution to the World Wildlife Federation last year. Additionally, one of the reasons I am a member of the Sierra Club and joined the National Parks Conservation Association is to help protect wildlife habitats in the United States.
I don't know what's going to happen to the elephants used in the circuses, but yes US tax dollars currently help to protect and conserve many other kinds of animals in the National Parks. And I'm fine with that.
