For elephant rights group, Ringling Brothers closure a chance to reinvent circuses

For many people, elephants are as synonymous with the circus as the big top tents themselves.

For the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, a decision to phase out captive elephants from its shows a year ago served as a precursor to a recent decision to end the circus altogether.

Jen Samuel, the New Jersey-based president and founder of Elephants DC hailed the decision to close the long-running circus as a victory for animals.

"It's very exciting to know that captive animals will no longer be put on display for our entertainment," she said.

While the circus provided an opportunity for people to see the elephants and others they might not have otherwise had the opportunity to see, Samuel said,  there can be other ways to accomplish the same goal.

"There is something to be said for having animals on display for people to observe them," she said. However, she also said throughout history people have not only put animals on display, but other people as well — and said objectifying either does not necessarily accomplish something positive.

"How does a child learn about the beauty of nature? 'E is for elephant.' They learn that as a symbol of hope and strength even before they learn how to speak," she said.

Samuel said she would like to see a way for animals to live peacefully in sanctuaries where they can roam free and people can still learn about them in a way that is safe for everyone involved.

"We need to be compassionate to all life. Not just humans," she said.

With Ringling Brothers announcing it will close in May, and reports that the Big Apple Circus is for sale, Samuel said this could be a time to redefine what people think of as a circus.

"Circque du Soleil is a circus, but that's humans doing amazing acts of creativity," she said. "If the circus is about the beauty of animals, let the circus evolve to where it is about the beauty of movement."

Even as the circuses fold up their tents, Samuel said, the work of her organization is far from over.

"Our organization advocates on behalf of animals," she said. Their work has helped legislation be passed in New Jersey and other places which have affected the sale of ivory, and the treatment of elephants and other animals."

Elephants DC's latest cause has been Nosey's Law. The bill, sponsored by State Sens. Ray Lesniak and Nilsa Cruz-Perez, would prohibit the use of elephants in traveling acts like circuses. The bill has passed the state Senate and Samuel said she hopes in the new year the bill will be passed by the Assembly and signed by Gov. Chris Christie.

Lesniak said the decision by Ringling Brothers to close was a "good thing," adding, "We continue to evolve as a society over time. Keeping elephants, tigers, and lions caged up for days at a time, whipping them into submission was never humane."

"New Jersey is becoming a leader," Samuel said.

Contact reporter Adam Hochron at 609-359-5326 or Adam.Hochron@townsquaremedia.com

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