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Ringling
Brothers Trainer on Trial for Animal Abuse
Abridged Version
From a news story by
CNN San Francisco Reporter James Hattori
December 19, 2001
For 131 years American circuses have had elephant acts. Now it is
said they have abused their elephants.
Mark is 31-years old. He is the son of famed tiger trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams.
He grew up in the circus.
But now it is said that he abused an Asian elephant during a performance
in San Jose California last August. He was using a common circus tool
called an ankus or bull hook.
A police officer at the performance says she saw Mark jump forward at
the first elephant with his hook. It looked like he was angry. She saw
his arm go forward in a jabbing motion.
The Humane Society says his action is against a California law. The
rule says if the skin of the elephant is broken, it is abuse.
A photo taken by the Humane Society shows what looks like a bloodstain.
Ringling Brothers had its veterinarian look at the elephant. They took
a photo showing the same area after it was washed.
The Ringling Brothers attorney says, "It's a pinprick injury that
had a bloodstain of about a nickel in diameter. I don't think it's got
any business being in court."
Tom Rider who once worked for Ringling Brothers says animal abuse is
common. He's part of a federal lawsuit to try to stop circuses from
using elephants. He says there are other cases where hookmarks were
found on elephants. Sometimes there are as many as 30 marks.
The animal rights groups want the public to know about the animal abuse.
The circus thinks Mark Gebel is on trial because of his famous name.
If found guilty, Gebel could face up to six months in jail and a one
thousand dollar fine.
Ringling Brothers says its show will go on as usual.
Further discussion
Definition:
An "ankus"
is a really a zoo term - "elephant hook" is a more proper
name. The traditional name is "bullhook". Click
here for more information on what an ankus is.
Update:
For additional information
about elephant conservation, look at these Web sites:
Related Websites:
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