ASPCA Says The Greatest Show On Earth Hurts Elephants
 Thursday, April 10th, 2008

The ASPCA has posted a petition in opposition of TNT's upcoming television series, "Greatest Show on Earth."  The TNT network announced last month that it is developing six new unscripted series as part of a primetime programming shift, and one of the shows is Greatest Show On Earth, which will take viewers inside the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as it whisks the circus to cities and towns across the country.  It will be produced by Earth Angel Productions, with Mark Wolper, Kenneth and Feld, Al Hassas and Res Izad as executive producers.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, however, has a different take on the Circus.  "The real story," their petition says, "is that Circus staff regularly abuse and torment performing elephants with bull hooks, chains and other devices.  The abuse of Ringling Bros. circus elephants - well documented by animal welfare organizations, state humane agencies, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors - violates both the federal Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibit the abuse of endangered animals used in entertainment."

Their petition claims that many have witnessed routine and violent abuse and cruelty toward the elephants, and maintains that "this kind of cruelty is not entertainment."  The ASPCA urges people to sign their petition with a goal of 25,000 signatures.

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