Elephant Abuse Charges and Freed Circus Animals in Need of Homes

Two pieces of recent good news in the United States and Bolivia, related to animals abused in entertainment venues, deserve some acknowledgment this month -- especially given that despite the good news, animals in both cases are still in danger and in need of help.

First, in the United States, as In Defense of Animals (IDA) reported late last week, the USDA has finally filed charges against Will Davenport. If you're stopping to ask yourself why that names sounds familiar, it's because he's the elephant handler from whom IDA and other advocates have been trying to rescue abused and sick elephants for year (previous related posts viewable here). According to IDA, "the charges state that 'the gravity of the violations alleged…is great' and that Davenport has 'not shown good faith' in his repeated unwillingness to comply with the AWA and its regulations and standards."

IDA reports that Davenport is charged with three counts of abusing and harassing USDA/APHIS officials, seven counts of failing to provide even the minimum of veterinary care, four counts of failing to handle the animals safely and humanely, and five counts of failing to meet the Animal Welfare Act's minimum operating standards (more details about halfway down the page here). However, Queenie the elephant is still in Davenport's substandard care, an injustice that IDA and other animal advocates hope will be rectified soon: "Both the PAWS sanctuary in California and The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee stand ready to accept Queenie free of charge to Davenport or the government and provide her with high quality care and spacious natural conditions for the rest of her life."

The second story comes from further south. As I relayed in mid-July, Bolivia this year took a remarkable stand for animals by passing a law banning the use of animals (the nonhuman variety, of course) in circuses. This was absolutely exciting and positive news, and it still is, but there is also the matter now of what will happen to those animals who were being used in circuses. A recent article in TIME discussed the dilemma:

The new law gives circuses until June 2010 to hand over their animals. Llamas, ponies and dogs, the most common performers here, can be easily reintegrated into comfortable habitats. And the country's performing tigers and bears have already been taken to neighboring countries by the owners of larger circuses to avoid confiscation. But small, family-owned circuses are unlikely to flee the country, which will leave two dozen lions and primates needing new homes.

Obviously, that many animals were just moved to other countries -- that these animals will benefit not at all from the law and will continue suffering -- is terribly frustrating. How much can be done about that now, until those countries pass their own laws like Bolivia's, is limited, but the lions and primates mentioned in the article do still have a chance at life if appropriate  homes can be found. The article notes that the advocates who worked so hard to get the ban passed do not consider zoos an option, and I don't blame them a bit for taking that position:

After spending a lifetime in small boxes, constantly moving from hot to frigid climates and living at the whim of humans, these animals "shouldn't have to be entertainment for anyone," says ADI CEO Jan Creamer.

With transport costs being covered by Animal Defenders International, the PAWS sanctuary in California will be taking some lions and helping to find sanctuaries and reserves for others. Here's to hoping these dedicated groups soon have safe havens lined up for all of Bolivia's freed circus animals. And here's to hoping that other nations wise up sooner rather than later and follow in Bolivia's footsteps.

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Circus tent photo uploaded by stock.xchng user Capgros