NORTH CARIBOO JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
A G E N D A
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010
4:00 P.M.
QUESNEL CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Page
A. CALL TO ORDER
1) Co-Chair Director Armstrong to chair the meeting. B. DELEGATIONS
1) QCEDC Quarterly update - A. Cheng to present. 3-17 2) Proposed "Goal 2 Protected Areas" - Dragon Mountain & Titetown Lake - Jim Young & Tony Fiala to present C. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
D. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
18-22 1) Minutes of September 14, 2010 North Cariboo Joint Planning Meeting E. JOINT COMMITTEE REPORTS
23-27 1) Joint Committee Report #18/10 - Sauna Replacement Project - General Manager Norburn to report 28-29 2) Joint Committee Report #19/10 - Building Envelope - Capital Budget - Recreation Manager Rogers to report
Page 1 of 62 North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee Meeting Page
F. CORRESPONDENCE
30-61 1) Letter from Penny Sharp requesting a by-law that will ban circuses that use wild & exotic animals in their acts. (Ms. Sharp has sent along an extensive report that will be made available upon request.) 62 2) Letter regarding North Cariboo Highway Rescue Society - update G. NEW BUSINESS:
H. ADJOURNMENT:
Page 2 of 62 Titetown Lake Proposed "Goal2 Protected Areas" - Jim Young &Tony Fiala to present
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Page 16 of62 / # * • / 9A$ * Titetown Lake Proposed "Goal2 Protected Areas" - Jim Young &Tony Fiala to present - Dragon Mountain & v
DDDDDDD Page 17 of62 A meeting of the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee was held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Quesnel City Hall.
PRESENT FROM CITY: Mayor Mary Sjostrom (Chair), Councillors Coralee Oakes, Ron Paull, Sushil Thapar, Mike Cave and Laurey-Anne Roodenburg. Staff members included General Manager Community Services Jeff Norburn, Recreation Manager Diane Rogers and Executive Assistant Sandy Brunt.
PRESENT FROM CRD: Northern Directors Ted Armstrong Jim Glassford, John Massier and Roberta Faust and CRD staff member Darron Campbell, Manager of Community Services.
There were no members of the public in the gallery.
A. Call to Order
Co-Chair Mayor Sjostrom called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
B. Adoption of Agenda
Co-Chair Mayor Sjostrom called for adoption of the agenda and the addition of late items of North Cariboo Recreation & Parks minutes, preliminary drawings of the Alex Fraser Park Concession and a CRD 2010 Budget Sheet.
10-08-59 MOVED Councillor Roodenburg, Seconded Director Faust and resolved: THAT the agenda for the September 14, 2010 North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee be approved and include the late items of NCRP minutes, Alex Fraser Park Concession Drawings and an additional CRD 2010 Budget Sheet. CARRIED C. Adoption of Minutes
10-08-60 MOVED Director Faust, Seconded Director Glassford and resolved: THAT the minutes for the July 19, 2010 North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee meeting be approved as circulated. CARRIED
10-08-61 MOVED Councillor Paull, Seconded Director Massier and resolved: THAT the minutes of the September 9, 2010 North Cariboo Recreation & Parks Commission meeting be received as circulated. CARRIED
General Manager Norburn reported that the North Cariboo Recreation and Parks Committee reviewed the North Cariboo Recreation & Parks budget and passed a motion to approve the budget as presented by staff with the addition of one capital item. He also noted that the Commission also volunteered for the duties of the Sports Hall of Fame process of reviewing and making recommendations for awards.
General Manager Norburn updated the Committee regarding the motion made at the July 19, 2010 Joint Planning Committee meeting, directing staff to work with the Quesnel Economic Development Corporation to secure funding to complete a Multiple Account Evaluation (MAE) for Option C, the preferred route for the North South Connector. General Manager Norburn advised the Committee that no grant funding has been secured yet.
MinutesNorth Cariboo of September Joint Planning 14, Committee 2010 North Meeting Cariboo Joint Page 18 of 62 Planning Meeting September 14, 2010 Page 2 of 5
Adoption of Minutes Continued
Councillor Paull commented that Route C does not adequately address his concerns with regard to logging trucks and dangerous goods truck traffic on Front Street and the air quality problems associated with them. Mayor Sjostrom advised that the MAE would review these types of issues and that the process would include discussions with the Ministry and the joint body. She also noted that the joint bodies would be meeting with the Ministers at UBCM at the end of the month.
10-08-62 MOVED Councillor Paull, Seconded Director Glassford and resolved: THAT in light of the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee’s support for Route C for the North/South Connector, that the Multiple Account Evaluation process consider the impact of logging and dangerous goods truck traffic on Front Street and the impact they have on air quality and other health and safety concerns. CARRIED
D. Joint Committee Staff Reports
Joint Committee Report #16/10 – Alex Fraser Park Concession Replacement
Recreation Manager Rogers reported that the Alex Fraser Park Concession and Ice Cream Stand burnt down this summer and she has been working with the insurance adjuster and the Alex Fraser Park Society on replacement plans which include using a versatile space including a concession and meeting room. Recreation Manager Rogers reported that a design/construction contractor has been selected by the Insurance Adjustor to complete the project and anticipated start date is later in September. Preliminary drawings of the concession were circulated to the committee.
10-08-63 MOVED Councillor Paull, Seconded Councillor Oakes and resolved: THAT the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee recommend to the Cariboo Regional District that the Alex Fraser Park Concession and Ice Cream Stand be replaced with a new structure based on the preliminary drawings presented to the Committee. CARRIED
Joint Committee Report #17/10 – North Cariboo Recreation & Parks Budget
General Manager Norburn reported that the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee and the Cariboo Regional District Board capped the North Cariboo Recreation and Parks budget at an increase of 1.25%. Staff have prepared the proposed budget based on a maximum increase of 1.25%. The proposed Leisure Services Department operating budget reflects the 1.25% increase over the 2010 budget resulting in only minor reductions to travel, training, advertising, program supplies & the Active Communities program. The Leisure Services Department proposed net Capital Budget for 2011 is $278,000 including grants in the amount of $150,000. The proposed budget also includes Multi-Centre pre-taxation of $300,000. Commissions (Parkland, Bouchie Lake and Barlow Creek) budgets are also proposed to increase by 1.25%. The proposed Pioneer Park and Alex Fraser Park Capital budgets have been maintained at the same level as 2010 ($6,000 for Pioneer Park and $50,000 for Alex Fraser Park). The NCRP budget includes $160,000 paid to the City for recreation services MinutesNorth Cariboo of September Joint Planning 14, Committee2010 North Meeting Cariboo Joint Page 19 of 62 Planning Meeting September 14, 2010 Page 3 of 5
Joint Committee Report #17/10 - Continued
operated by the Municipality. General Manager Norburn advised that the total budget proposed represented an increase to the tax requisition of less than 0.15% and that the Committee could, at its discretion, increase funding in some areas of the overall budget and still keep the overall budget under the 1.5% target set the Board and the Committee. The Recreation Commission made a recommendation at their meeting on September 9, 2010 to increase the Leisure Services Department Capital budget by $20,000 to include a locker replacement project.
10-08-64 MOVED Director Armstrong, Seconded Councillor Roodenburg and resolved: THAT the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee recommend to the Cariboo Regional District Board that the proposed 2011 North Cariboo Recreation and Parks budget be approved with a total tax requisition of $3,065,174 as presented including: a) a net 2011 municipal operating contract of $2,027,700 (representing a 1.25% increase over the previous year), b) a 2011 municipal contract capital budget of $428,000, less $150,000 in anticipated grant funding, for a net capital budget of $278,000 (representing a 1.25% increase in funding over the previous year), c) a 2011 capital budget of $50,000 for the Alex Fraser Park Society, d) a 2011 capital budget of $6,000 for the Archery Club for Pioneer Park e) a 2011 Multi-Centre pre-tax of $300,000, f) total funding of $70,011 for the Bouchie, Barlow, Parkland combined operating and capital budgets (representing a 1.25% increase in funding over the previous year). g) funding provided to the City of Quesnel for Municipal parks and recreation services at $160,000. h) an additional 2011 capital budget project of $20,000 – new lockers for the Quesnel & District Recreation Centre. CARRIED Joint Committee members commented on the budget preparation and discussion ensuring that user groups and the general public be given an opportunity to review the sub-regional recreation budgets.
10-08-65 MOVED Councillor Paull, Seconded Director Glassford and resolved: THAT the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee have staff provide the public and recreation user groups advance notice to comment on the 2012 sub regional recreation budget. CARRIED
E. Correspondence
Letter from Premier Campbell – a letter from Premier Campbell thanking the City and CRD for the materials regarding the North Cariboo Multi-Centre Wood First Project. Mayor Sjostrom advised that information regarding the Multi-Centre was forwarded to the Premier. Mayor Sjostrom further noted that meetings with the Ministers have been set for the upcoming UBCM convention.
MinutesNorth Cariboo of September Joint Planning 14, Committee2010 North Meeting Cariboo Joint Page 20 of 62 Planning Meeting September 14, 2010 Page 4 of 5
Correspondence Continued
10-08-66 MOVED Director Armstrong, Seconded Director Faust and resolved: THAT the letter from Premier Campbell thanking the CRD and the City for the materials received on the North Cariboo Multi-Centre project be received. CARRIED
Letter from Quesnel Aquatic Club – the letter from Quesnel Aquatic Club was received advising that the group had a successful swim meet and thanking the Arts and Recreation staff and management for their support.
10-08-67 MOVED Director Armstrong, Seconded Director Faust and resolved: THAT the letter from the Quesnel Aquatic Club thanking the Arts & Recreation Centre for their support be received. CARRIED
Letter from Quesnel Women’s Fall Challenge – 17th Annual – letter from Quesnel Women’s Fall Challenge requesting sponsorship from North Cariboo Joint Planning for use of the West Fraser Timber Room on October 2nd for race package pick-up. Mayor Sjostrom reported that the City of Quesnel provided sponsorship in the amount of $150.00. General Manager Norburn advised that waiving fees is not permitted by the CRD Fees and Charges Bylaw. The Committee requested that a letter be sent explaining that funds are not available.
10-08-68 MOVED Councillor Paull, Seconded Director Armstrong and resolved: THAT the letter from the Quesnel Women’s Fall Challenge be received and a letter be forwarded to the group. CARRIED
F. New Business
Director Glassford thanked General Manager Norburn and his ESS volunteers for the great job and services they provided to the evacuated residents during the recent wildfires. Director Glassford requested that everyone involved be thanked.
G. Next Meeting
There will be a meeting with the School District and the Joint Committee on Tuesday, October 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the School Board Office.
The next regular North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for October 12, 2010 beginning at 4:00 p.m. to be followed by Cariboo Regional District State of the Region meeting at 5:30 at the Quesnel Senior Centre.
Minutes of September 14, 2010 North Cariboo Joint Page 21 of 62 Planning Meeting North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee Meeting September 14, 2010 Page 5 of 5
H. Adjournment
10-08-69 MOVED Councillor Oakes, Seconded Director Glassford and resolved: THAT the meeting be adjourned at 6:30 p.m. and moved to a special closed committee meeting. CARRIED
______MAYOR MARY SJOSTROM CO-CHAIR
Minutes of September 14, 2010 North Cariboo Joint Page 22 of 62 Planning Meeting Administration Report #18/10
City of Quesnel M E M O R A N D U M
TO: City Manager
FROM: General Manager, Community Services
DATE: September 30, 2010
SUBJECT: Sauna Replacement Project
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee RECOMMEND to the Cariboo Regional District Board that the 2010 North Cariboo Recreation and Parks budget be amended by transferring $85,000 from the North Cariboo Recreation and Parks Capital Reserve Account to the 2010 capital budget for replacement of the saunas at the Arts and Recreation Centre.
AND FURTHER that the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee RECOMMEND to the Cariboo Regional District Board that the $85,000 included in the 2011 capital budget for the replacement of the saunas be re-allocated as a transfer to capital reserves.
AND FURTHER that the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee SUPPORT the application from the City of Quesnel to the Northern Development Initiate Trust for a $30,000 grant under the Community Halls and Recreation Facilities Program for the upgrading of the Arts and Recreation Centre including the installation of an Ultra Violet Disinfection System and the replacement of the saunas.
BACKGROUND
At it’s September 14 meeting, the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee passed a resolution recommending that the North Cariboo Recreation and Parks budget be approved by the CRD Board. The proposed budget includes a capital project to replace the existing three saunas at the Arts and Recreation Centre. The total project cost is budgeted to be $100,000. It is anticipated that the project, along with the UV Disinfection System will be eligible for a $30,000 grant from the Northern Development Initiative Trust which, if successful, will reduce the cost to NCRP to $85,000 for this part of the project.
The best time to complete much of this work is during the facility shut down in December. Doing the majority of the work during the facility shutdown is more practical and will minimize any inconvenience to the public. Staff would prefer not to wait until December 2011 to undertake this work if possible. There are health and safety issues that have been raised due to
Joint Committee Report #18/10 - Sauna Replacement Page 23 of 62 Project - General Manager Norburn to report Administration Report #18/10
the current condition of the saunas and staff are of the opinion that it would be prudent to address these concerns as quickly as possible.
It is recommended that the 2010 NCRP budget be amended to include this capital project with funds to come from the capital reserve account. The funds that have been allocated for the sauna project in 2011 would instead be redirected to the capital reserve account in 2011 so that the reserve account is replenished. There would be no net impact to the taxpayer as a result of this action, and any funds taken from the capital reserves would be replaced next year.
OPTIONS:
1. Make no amendments to the budget and require that the project be undertaken in December 2011. 2. Amend the budget as recommended and allow the project to proceed in 2010. 3. Any other action deemed appropriate by the Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Norburn, General Manager, Community Services
Joint Committee Report #18/10 - Sauna Replacement Page 24 of 62 Project - General Manager Norburn to report 9/30/2010 1554 -1 Project Joint Committee Report #18/10 CARIBOO REGIONAL DISTRICT 2010 BUDGET - General Manager Norburn to report 1554 North Cariboo Recreation & Parks Projected Business Plan Actual Actual Final Actual Provisional Final Provisional Provisional Provisional Provisional 2007 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Revenues
1100 1100 Defined Area SRVA#73 - A, B, C & I 975,999 1,054,514 1,012,683 1,012,769 1,018,931 1,064,682 1,071,530 1,079,989 1,089,293 1,099,526
76,552,131 2008 Revised Hosp Assess (conv) - Sauna Replacement $ 137.75 2008 Residential Rate /$100,000 77,660,034 2009 Completed Hosp Assess (conv) 78,436,634 83,038,145 83,868,526 84,707,212 85,554,284 86,409,827 $ 130.40 2009 Residential Rate /$100,000 129.91 126.85 127.76 127.50 127.32 127.25
1100 1300 City of Quesnel 2,124,760 2,047,549 2,009,380 2,009,294 2,021,779 1,976,028 1,991,164 2,006,883 2,024,172 2,043,188
152,541,490 2008 Revised Hosp Assess (conv) 154,094,215 2009 Completed Hosp Assess (conv) 155,635,157 154,305,181 155,848,233 157,406,715 158,980,782 160,570,590
Total Requisition 3,100,759 3,102,063 3,022,063 3,022,063 3,040,710 3,040,710 3,062,694 3,086,872 3,113,465 3,142,713 Page 25 of 62 1500 1550 Interest Recovery 35,160 21,627 - - - - -
1700 1755 Infrastructure Grants 258,580 75,000 134,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000
federal grants 208,000 provincial grants donations 2,000 1700 1759 Other Grants 10,000 223,500 1,333,200 1,333,200 1700 1799 Anticipated Grants 200,000 171,500 1900 1911 Prior Year's Surplus 98,078 - 26,935 501,524 - - - -
1900 1912 Transfer from Capital Reserve - 85,600 303,600 - 450,000 450,000
1900 1913 Transfer from Capital Fund - 255,285 228,000 188,000 107,005
Total Revenue 3,135,919 3,745,633 3,182,663 3,553,663 3,589,645 4,254,239 3,212,694 5,020,072 5,046,665 3,292,713
Expenditures
Personnel
2110 1101 Direct Salaries 45 11,811 11,720 11,720 12,072 12,072 12,434 12,807 13,191 13,191
2110 1103 Parttime Salaries 696
2110 1301 Benefits 16 2,502 4,101 4,101 4,593 4,593 5,052 5,558 6,113 6,725
Total Personnel Costs 61 15,009 15,821 15,821 16,665 16,665 17,486 18,365 19,304 19,916
General
2120 1120 Contract Services 160,000 160,000 160,000 160,000 160,000 160,000 160,000 160,000 160,000 9/30/2010 1554 -2 Project Joint Committee Report #18/10 CARIBOO REGIONAL DISTRICT 2010 BUDGET - General Manager Norburn to report 1554 North Cariboo Recreation & Parks Projected Business Plan Actual Actual Final Actual Provisional Final Provisional Provisional Provisional Provisional 2007 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2120 1300 WCB Premiums 85
2120 2108 Meeting Expense ------Sauna Replacement 2120 2110 Travel 2,642 1,051 1,500 2,000 2,040 2,040 2,081 2,122 2,165 2,208
2120 2124 Referendum Expenses 3,011
2120 2392 Professional/Consulting -
2140 2373 Insurance 77,715 75,730 82,778 99,730 109,703 109,703 120,673 132,741 146,015 160,616
2140 5500 Utilities 83 76 109 109 111 111 113 116 118 120
Total General Operating 80,440 239,953 244,387 261,839 271,854 271,854 282,868 294,979 308,298 322,945
Grant Total Operating 80,501 254,962 260,208 277,660 288,519 288,519 300,354 313,343 327,602 342,860 Page 26 of 62
2145 1132 Contract - City of Quesnel 3,103,153 3,174,981 3,160,050 3,160,050 3,157,550 3,157,550 3,220,701 3,285,115 3,350,817 3,417,834
2145 1139 Municipal Recreation Revenue Offset - 1,346,276 - 1,180,298 - 1,195,550 - 1,195,550 - 1,154,900 - 1,154,900 - 1,189,547 - 1,225,233 - 1,261,990 - 1,299,850
Net Municipal Contract 1,756,877 1,994,682 1,964,500 1,964,500 2,002,650 2,002,650 2,031,154 2,059,882 2,088,827 2,117,984
1,837,378 2,249,645 2,224,708 2,242,160 2,291,169 2,291,169 2,331,508 2,373,225 2,416,429 2,460,844
Capital
2150 6000 Equipment Improvements 219,695 732,760 399,900 1,039,900 448,000 933,000 531,000 2,345,000 2,106,000 95,000 2150 6000 Anticipated Grant Expense 200,000 173,500 2150 6000 Alex Fraser - 90,300 90,300 50,000 50,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000
Total Capital 219,695 732,760 490,200 1,130,200 698,000 1,156,500 556,000 2,370,000 2,131,000 120,000
2190 2000 Bouchie Lake Hall - Operating 20,775 31,800 31,800 31,800 32,404 79,123 33,052 33,713 34,387 35,075
2190 2001 Barlow Creek Hall - Operating 8,151 11,409 14,490 14,490 14,765 22,208 15,060 15,362 15,669 15,982
2190 2002 Ten Mile Lake - Operating 156 - 2,100 2,100 2,140 10,226 2,183 2,226 2,271 2,316
2190 6000 Bouchie Lake Hall - Capital 15,970 26,740 16,740 5,240 28,559 23,977 17,400 17,748 18,103 18,465
2190 6001 Barlow Creek Hall - Capital 4,574 8,094 11,430 - 23,077 23,077 11,880 12,118 12,360 12,607 - 2190 6002 Ten Mile Lake - Capital - - 4,005 - 8,086 4,163 4,246 4,331 4,417
Total Sub-Regional Groups 49,627 78,043 80,565 53,630 109,031 158,611 83,738 85,413 87,121 88,863 9/30/2010 1554 -3 Project Joint Committee Report #18/10 CARIBOO REGIONAL DISTRICT 2010 BUDGET - General Manager Norburn to report 1554 North Cariboo Recreation & Parks Projected Business Plan Actual Actual Final Actual Provisional Final Provisional Provisional Provisional Provisional 2007 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Fiscal Services
2250 7400 Transfer to Capital Reserve 223,500 332,598 18,884 66,006 177,656 34,170 241,448 191,434 412,115 623,006
2250 7400 Multi-Centre Pre-Tax 513,750 300,000 300,000 300,000 300,000 600,000 - Sauna Replacement 2811 8100 Interest Charges 4,423 4,629
2811 8150 Lease Costs 20,684 20,684 20,684 20,684 13,789 13,789
2811 8200 MFA Interest 100,739 12,154 32,500 - - - - -
2811 8300 MFA Principal 68,046 15,121 15,122 - - - - -
2900 9800 Budgeted Surplus 98,078 26,935 - - - - -
2900 9900 Prior Year's Deficit
Total Fiscal Services 1,029,219 685,186 387,190 413,625 491,445 647,959 241,448 191,434 412,115 623,006 Page 27 of 62 Total Expenditures 3,135,919 3,745,633 3,182,663 3,839,615 3,589,645 4,254,239 3,212,694 5,020,072 5,046,665 3,292,713
Authorization: Services Establishment Bylaw #3900 Taxation Limitation: Greater of $3.70 per $1,000 or $3,678,000 Capital Reserve December 31, 2008 $2,472,732.40 Joint Committee Report #19/10
City of Quesnel
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: General Manager, Community Services
FROM: Recreation Manager
DATE: September 30, 2010
SUBJECT: Building Envelope Project Changes
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee RECOMMEND to the Cariboo Regional District Board that the 2010 North Cariboo Recreation and Parks capital project Building Envelope budget be amended to included other energy efficiency projects.
BACKGROUND
The 2010 Capital Budget included $50,000 for “Building Envelope and Efficiency Upgrades”, of which we anticipated 50% funding from the CRD’s allocation of the Federal Community Works Fund (Gas Tax) for a net cost to the NCRP Budget of $25,000. The original 2010 Building Envelope capital project focused on insulating the south wall of the Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre. Our consultants report on this project indicated that the cost to insulate the south wall would between $210, 000 and $266,000 which are well beyond our original estimates. The payback on the project is estimated to be approximately 20 years and as result would not be feasible to do. One option they provided was to paint the wall with elastomeric paint. Therefore, we are planning to sandblast and paint the wall for $8300 instead. As a result we are proposing to make other building envelope improvements (doors, windows and caulking improvements etc) and would like to include an energy efficiency project not related to the building envelope.
The project we would like to include is the conversion of our existing furnaces in the Arts side of the facility to install 96% efficient hot water boilers by removing the burner sections of the furnace and installing hot water coils in their place similar to the 2009 arena project. It will run a 50/50 glycol mix. The existing furnaces are original and the burner units would most likely need to be replaced in the future anyway.
Joint Committee Report #19/10 - Building Envelope - Page 28 of 62 Capital Budget - Recreation Manager Rogers to report Joint Committee Report #19/10
It is likely that we will spend $10,000 on the building envelope project and approximately $30, 000 to $40, 000 on the furnace project. This will most likely leave the budget under spent. The boiler project is an energy efficient project and would be eligible for the 50% gas tax funding.
CONCLUSION
We successfully converted the furnaces at the Twin Arenas to condensing boilers in 2009, resulting in an annual savings of $7000 in natural gas. This project is the same concept resulting in estimated savings of $5000 per year. There would also be a reduction of green house gas emissions, which we are unable to estimate at this time. We would like to commence the project as soon as possible.
No amendment to the CRD budget is required as a result of this reallocation of funds.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Rogers, Recreation Manager
CONCURRENCE
Director Signature Date
Joint Committee Report #19/10 - Building Envelope - Page 29 of 62 Capital Budget - Recreation Manager Rogers to report
September 10 2010
Attention Members of The Joint Committee Council: Ted Armstrong and Co-chair Mary Sjostrom
I am respectfully asking that the city of Quesnel pass a by-law that will ban circuses that use wild and exotic animals in their acts. Presented is an information package detailing the chronic neglect and abuse in which these animals suffer, severe confinement issues as well as the threat to public safety posed by these types of circuses. I thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter.
Respectfully Yours
Penny Sharp 1281 Maple Heights Rd Quesnel BC Canada V2j 3x4 (250) - 747 - 2930
Letter from Penny Sharp requesting a by-law that will ban Page 30 of 62 circuses that use wild & exotic animals in their acts.
August 01 2010
Dear Editor,
Recently the circus came to Quesnel. An internet search of the Jordan World Circus produced articles, video footage and photos of their brutal treatment of their performing animals and a host of citations and fines that they have incurred since the early 1990`s. They have been cited for such things as failure to seek veterinary care for injured animals, not providing basic food and water, cruel treatment of animals, poor ventilation in transport vehicles, failure to repair cages and holding pens, keeping animals in cages for up to 11 days, failure to perform random drug tests on employees and the list goes on. Currently, The Jordan World Circus does not have an exhibitors license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This means that animals are leased from outside companies and Jordan is no longer subject to citations under its own name. These issues are wipe spread and common practice among the countless circuses out there.
Elephants spend 96% of their time in chains. Big cats, primates and bears are forced to spent countless days in cages so small they cannot even turn around in. These animals are in a constant state of transit, as a circus can tour 40-50 weeks out of the year. The brutal training tactics used on these animals has been well documented. These animals are subjected to daily beatings just so they can perform ridiculous tricks. Circus animals perform not because they want to, but because they’re afraid not to. On July 11th, The Jordan World Circus was at Meadow Lake Arena, where according to eyewitness reports during the bear act, one bear became aggressive, got loose from its’ leash and began to fight with another bear. It took approximately five minutes for two trainers hitting and slapping these bears to separated them. This happened in a packed arena, one can only imagine the punishment these bears receive behind closed doors when they step out of line. Constant frustration and stress from confinement, fear, boredom can lead to serious physiological problems with these animals and this creates a real and viable threat to the publics safety. Again such incidents have been well documented.
Entire countries have banned these outdated and archaic circuses. Currently BC is the leading province with twenty cities to ban the use of animals in circuses. It is time for Quesnel to follow suit. Write the mayor and city council demanding circuses with human acts only or do the simplest thing you can and don’t go. Life in the circus is no life at all.
Penny Sharp
Letter from Penny Sharp requesting a by-law that will ban Page 31 of 62 circuses that use wild & exotic animals in their acts.
August 2010
A Report on Circus Animals
Information complied by:
Penny Sharp
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Table of Contents
1. Cover Letter
2. Animal Abuse Within The Circus
3. Captivity and Transportation of Performing Animals
4. Psychological and Physical Issues
5. Dangers Posed by Circuses with Animal
6. Laws and The Circus
7. Summary
8. References
Dear Mayor Sjostrom and Council Members,
Letter from Penny Sharp requesting a by-law that will ban Page 33 of 62 circuses that use wild & exotic animals in their acts.
I am respectfully submitting an information package on circuses that use animals in their acts. Presented is information on the abuse and severe confinement issues of circus animals, as well as the threat these types of circuses pose to public safety.
The Jordan World Circus that performed in Quesnel has a long history of citations and fines they have incurred. This information has been included. The Jordan World Circus does not hold an exhibitors license with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Their animals are leased from outside companies, so Jordan World Circus is no longer subject to citations under its own name.
While preparing this for submission, the information was overwhelming with video footage, reports and photos of the abuse performing animals suffer. Scientific data, newspaper accounts and cases of animal abuse are presented in this submission. For as long as there has been circuses, there has been abuse to animals. Unfortunately, not much as changed to protect the welfare of these animals.
How can we as a community continue to justify this barbaric and inhumane treatment of animals for our entertainment? Sir Paul McCartney was quoted as once saying, “If slaughterhouses were made of glass, everyone would be a vegetarian”. It is logical that the same analogy could be used to describe circuses that use animals.
I thank you in advance for allowing me to submit this package and taking the time to go through it for your consideration.
Respectfully Yours
Penny Sharp 1281 Maple Heights Rd Quesnel BC v2j 3x4 (250)-747-2930
Animal Abuse Within The Circus
Animals commonly used in North American circuses are: elephants, bears, primates, big cats,
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zebras and horses. These are respectively intelligent and social creatures who would normally live in their own natural complex environments and eco systems. It is impossible for the very nature of circuses to provide the necessary space, stimulation, exercise and social environment that these animals need.
The training tactics used on the animals are nothing short of brutal. Animals are routinely beaten in order to perform unnatural, painful tricks that they do not understand and would otherwise in their own natural habitats fear. For example a tiger jumping through a hoop of fire or an adult male lion riding on the back of a pony. There is no government agency that monitors training sessions or regulates the experience or training of handlers and trainers. The neglect and abuse of these animals have been well documented over the years. There are hundreds of hours of undercover video from around the world from various animal rights groups, reports from former employees and whistleblowers from circuses, who have either witnessed the abuse or have been an active participant, reports from government agencies and scientific data that support the fact that circus animals suffer. Although circuses tout that there is no abuse and their animals are trained using only positive reinforcement, the evidence speaks for itself. According to Primatologist Anne Russon: “Although trainers may focus on positive reinforcement, there are times when they must assert a dominance-dependency relationship, either by physical threat or aggression against the animal, by social isolation or by further restricting their freedom”.
Physical punishment other than the obvious pain it causes, can be very stressful for animals when the reasons for the punishments are not consistent or understood. For example; a trainer becomes angry and lashes out and there is nothing the animal can do to prevent it from happening. The animal becomes confused and stressed because it does not understand why it is being punished. This becomes a problem when this type of punishment is a regular occurrence. Animals are also subjected to verbal abuse, which includes swearing and being yelled and screamed at.
Animals perform not because they want to, but because they are afraid not to. Animals are taken out of the wild and put into a lifetime of misery in the circus. Big cats are hit with poles and boards. They are dragged by heavy chains around their necks and denied food for a poor performance. Bears are beaten with boards, punched, kicked, slapped, have had their noses broken and their paws burned in order to force them to stand on their hind legs. Bears are often forced to wear tight muzzles and collars. Reports show that horses have been grabbed around the throat, stabbed with pitchforks, punched in the face and endure painful “lip twists”. Trainers are taught how to “break an elephant’s spirit”. Elephants are taken away from their mother’s at around the age of one year and the horror begins. Elephants are routinely beaten with bullhooks and boards, they are kicked, punched and electrocuted. Once elephants have been repeatedly beaten with bullhooks, just showing them the weapon causes enough stress to make them perform. One undercover video from Tulsa Oklahoma showed a 30 minute beating to an elephant which left it bloody and screaming. Elephant experts agree; “an elephant will not voluntarily perform difficult, physically strenuous and painful manoeuvres many times a day on command. No form of positive reinforcement alone will elicit these unnatural behaviours”.
The following are but a few harrowing cases of abuse suffered by circus elephants. Their stories deservedly needed to be told.
NED: was a sick malnourished bull elephant who was seized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was taken to a sanctuary but did not survive.
BO: captive born and taken away from his mother at a year old. He was performing when he
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should have still been nursing. Bo is the half brother of Ned and is 15 years old. Currently performs under contract of Shriners Circus. Bo recently performed in Quesnel.
STONEY: 22 year old Asian elephant who was injured while performing at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. Stoney pulled a hamstring while repeatedly made to perform a hind leg stand that he couldn’t do. He was unable to walk and was loaded in a hotel dumpster and wheeled to a maintenance shed behind the hotel. He did not receive immediate veterinary attention and by the time he did his prognosis was grim. He was kept upright in a mechanical cattle crush inside that dark shed for 11 months. He stood in his own urine and feces and a water hose was shoved in his mouth for water a couple of times a day. After almost a year, a hotel employee and a trainer attempted to move him and while removing the cattle crush, Stoney fell and injured his other back leg. Reports state that the public could hear screams coming from the shed. He died later that day. According to PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society), Linda Faso, she spoke to the crane lift operator who removed Stoney’s body from the shed, who was quoted as saying “It’s a funny thing after the elephant fell, he was lying on the ground groaning in pain. Then the trainer walked through the door and that elephant started chirping and calling to him; then he reached out his trunk to the guy, like he wanted to touch him. The guy said “cut it out Stoney”, and he kind of pushed his trunk away. The elephant sighed and then just died”.
MICKEY: an Asian elephant sold at barely a year old. In less than 2 years, Mickey displayed stereotypical behaviours; head bobbing and weaving, rocking and swaying. (These behaviors are usually seen in severely disturbed ADULT elephants). In 1994 while with King Royal Circus, Mickey refused to perform a trick and attempted to flee from the tent. His trainer jabbed him with a bullhook, witnesses’ reported seeing blood gushing from his wounds as he tried to crawl away on all fours. One month later, Mickey wrapped his trunk around the neck of a three year old girl and attempted to pull her to him. The girl was rushed to the hospital. PAWS investigators have filed numerous complaints with the USDA, charges were brought against the trainer and circus. Nothing has changed for Mickey, he lives in a breeding compound - chained.
TUMAI: young African bull. Tumai had a history of aggressive behaviors against his keeper. Because of this, he was chained in a way that severly restricted his movement. Tumai was chained this way for most of the summer and reports claim that he was fed and watered infrequently in an attempt to debilitate his physical strength. He was electrocuted and when that failed he was rammed with a tractor to show him that there were things bigger and stronger than him. On one occasion he was rammed in the head and back in which he suffered terrible physical damage leaving him unable to stand. Tumai was subsequently euthanized to avoid a public relations disaster.
Captive bull elephants are more aggressive then females. Young bulls are severely punished during training in order to keep them manageable. Trainers frequently chain
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difficult elephants in positions that don’t allow any movement. Bulls are deprived of water and food as trainers believe it necessary to keep them under control. It is expensive to care for elephants, but especially so for bulls. Due to their strength, it is incredibly expensive to house them humanely. Captive bulls usually live alone in concrete bunkers or chained in tiny spaces.
Baby elephants once taken from their mothers are immediately put into training with the same harsh punishments, coupled with the stresses of being separated from their mothers. Ringling Brothers Circus has had several baby elephants die in their care over the years.
KENNY: 3 years old Asian elephant suspected to be suffering from a viral infection. He was sick one month into the circus’s gruelling schedule and was forced to perform three times while visibly sick. He died just hours after his last performance. As a result, Ringling Brothers was charged in violation of the Animal Welfare Act and subsequently paid $20,000 to settle out of court.
RICCARDO: 8 months old, was euthanized after severely fracturing both hinds legs when he fell off a 19 inch pedestal in August of 2005. It is interesting to note that he was undersized when born to “Shirley” another Ringling elephant. “Shirley” should have been at least 18 years old to breed, but she was bred when she was only 7 years old. It is thought that Riccardo suffered a bone disorder from malnourishment as his mother was unable to nurse him.
BERTHA: 11 days old, she died in the summer of 2005. Ringling Brothers did not initially report her death.
Another one of Ringling Brothers baby elephants, Benjamin appears later in this paper with a similar untimely death.
CAPTIVITY AND TRANSPORTATION OF PERFORMING ANIMALS
Captivity: All wild animals need far more than food, water and tiny living space to remain healthy. They need room to move around and an environment that allows for normal behaviour. They need high levels of stimulation, appropriate social environments and some control over their own lives. Unfortunately the circus provides none of these. The very act of extreme confinement is inherently cruel.
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Lack of movement and exercise leads to obesity, skeletal disorders, a decrease in strength and cardiovascular fitness, sores from rubbing on cage walls and bars, standing, sitting and lying on hard surfaces. Being forced to stand, sit or lie in the same small space eventually leads to severe emotional trauma, with varying stages of frustration, depravation and boredom.
Big cats, bears and primates are forced to live, eat, drink, urinate and defecate in the same small cage. These cages usually don’t allow for the animal to even be able to turn around in. Big cats live and travel in cages 4 feet high by 7 feet wide by 7 feet long, often housing two cats in one cage. Elephants can spend up to 96% of their time in chains. When in chains, elephants are only able to shuffle a couple steps forward and backwards. In nature, all these animals can cover several miles of territory a day. Dr Keith Lindsay with 30 years of experience in the research, management and conservation of African elephants writes: “Real” “elephants are not sedentary, isolated and submissively docile animals. They are active, mobile, sociable and spirited. Conditions of captivity should have all the expressions of these qualities. Their absence indicates that conditions are below minimum humane standards.”
According to research conducted by the School of Biological Sciences in the UK, researchers found that extreme confinement is disastrous to an animals cognitive and social development. It was found that animals that have been bred for multiple generations in captivity still show a high motivation to perform certain activities seen in their wild counterparts.
Stress caused by confinement is more acute the more wide ranging the species. This type of confinement can lead to abnormal behavioural patterns. Which include:
1. Hyper aggression 2. Apathy 3. Self-Mutilation
Stereotypical movements: head weaving, rocking side to side, bar licking, pacing. Stereotypical behaviours are repetitive behaviours that develop in captive animals when normal behaviour is prevented. These behaviours increase with restriction of movement and more barren the environment.
Experts agree that these behaviours are indicative of inappropriate and unhealthy physical and social environments. Circuses breed these types of distorted and unnatural behaviours. According to Canadian animal welfare scientist, Ian Duncan, in the wild, when animals experience stressors, they cope through naturally developed, often flexible biological mechanisms that prevent stressors from being chronic or life-threatening. Artificial stressors of captivity is different from those experienced in nature, most captive animals have not developed the natural biological and behaviour mechanisms to cope. Duncan also states that animals have a range of biological drives that they have no control over. For example; migration, hibernation, reproduction and predation. Frustrations are due to these drives being suppressed in captivity.
Transportation: Big cats, primates and bears are transported in “beast wagons”, small, mobile cages. Animals often live in the same cages that they are transported in. Elephants and horses are chained and tethered. A circus can be on tour between 40-50 weeks out of the year. Some animals are in a constant state of transit. Many animal acts are independently owned and operated, so when one
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tour ends the animals are contracted out to another circus. Often the trailers used to transport the animals are improperly ventilated and heated and in need of repair. Cages and restraints have few if any safety features that are found in professional zoos. Forced movement, human handling, noise, cage motion and confinement all contribute to sources of stress. Unfortunately, housing in the circus has not significantly changed in the past 150 years.
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ISSUES
Extreme confinement, lack of movement, fear and social isolation bring about constant frustrations that can lead to psychological problems. Deprived of the ability to engage in natural movements and behaviours, such as foraging, hunting, migrating and hibernating, animals can become bored, frustrated, aggressive and stressed. Some animals constantly search for escape routes. Disturbed or chronically stressed animals are unpredictable. Chartered biologist Rob Laidlaw states that, “There is no doubt in my mind that circus and travelling show animals suffer due to physically and psychologically impoverished living conditions”. It is generally accepted that suffering occurs when a particular stimulus becomes intense, unpleasant and prolonged and the animal has little or no opportunity to relieve or avoid it. The scientific community agrees that a comprehensive overview of all aspects of animal welfare in circuses is absent. (Radford 2007). One study suggests that human audiences have stressful effects on animals. Loud noise is a well
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known stressor in captive animals, coupled with an audience, it can cause huddling, adverse behaviour and a desire to escape. Tigers pacing may peak up to 80% in the hour leading to performance when animals are on display. Stereotypical behaviours in elephants increase prior to performance as well.
Disturbing stories emerge from the suffering these animals go through. A former Ringling Brothers employee reported to the Elephant Alliance about treatment of one of their bears. “She was a sweet little innocent brown bear who never hurt anyone, but sometimes she had trouble balancing on the high wire. She was beaten with long metal rods until she was bleeding and screaming. She became so neurotic that she would beat her head against her small cage. She finally died”
In 2009, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Brothers Circus went on trial for six weeks for violations of the Endangered Species Act in Washington D.C. Former Barnum and Bailey employee, Tom Rider testified, “Bullhooks are not guides, bullhooks are weapons. A guide should not be a sharp steel tipped device with a heavy handle that easily rips an elephants sensitive skin”. Rider also testified; “Even baby elephants are subjected to extreme cruelty”. “Baby Benjamin” was beaten for simply trying to play with another baby”. Four year old Benjamin drowned in a pond while trying to get away from his trainer who was striking him with a bullhook.
According to a study conducted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the UK, significant health problems were found in captive performing animals. Due to the lack of exercise, elephants can become obese leading to joint and ligament problems of their feet and legs, rheumatoid disorders, chronic arthritis and lameness. Joint problems as well as hernias are thought to result from circus elephants having to repeatedly assume the same unnatural position during training and performing. Elephants are forced to do headstands, crawl, twirl, sit and stand on one another. Captive elephants have no access to mud baths, a natural remedy that wild elephants use for skin care, so they are susceptible to severe skin conditions. Elephants who are chained all night develop severe foot ailments and stereotyped movements that seem to indicate frustration and neurosis. (Bob Truett). Captive elephants have been found to have teeth abnormalities that are not found in wild elephants, this is believed to be due to incorrect and inappropriate feeding habits. African elephants can transmit a lethal herpes virus to Asian elephants, in nature, these two species would not come across one another.
Some diseases rarely found in the wild, but are present in captivity are again due to poor feeding habits. Botulism has been found in big cats. Tigers can suffer from stress induced gastroenteritis. Experts believe that captive elephants can suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Many circus animals live outside their natural climatic parameters and have a difficult time adjusting to the change in climates. Government agencies and performing animal welfare groups have found several instances of malnourished and underweight animals throughout all circuses. Animals that are injured or sick have had either no veterinary care or a lack of follow up veterinary care. Animals are often made to perform while sick or injured.
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DANGERS POSED BY CIRCUSES WITH ANIMALS
It has been well documented that there is a risk posed by performing animals to public safety through direct attacks and attempted and successful escapes. Circus goers forget that they are watching wild, potentially dangerous animals in a confined space. These animals perform in front of audiences, have pictures taken with the public and give rides with few protective measures in place. There is risk posed to themselves, their handlers, members of the audience and bystanders. These significantly increase due to poor animal welfare conditions, inadequate safety measures and excessive handling and transportation. Routine handling and moving of animals occurs in close proximity to the public, this increases the risk of escapes or attacks. Trainers believe that the animals are under their control at all times and pose no threat to the public, but realistically these are wild animals who can be unpredictable and their natural and instinctive behaviours can surface when reacting to something negative in their environment.
Very few circuses have a ’Recapture Plan’ in place for an escaped or charging elephant. Experts agree that these plans are ineffective at best. It is not uncommon for animals who have had prior acts of aggression to either be leased out or sold to different outfits, the animals names are often changed. This makes it difficult to keep track of instances of aggression. Thus communities that
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support these types of circuses have no idea of the history of the animals the public is coming into contact with.
Circus animals can carry transmittable diseases. The one worth noting here is Tuberculosis. Circus elephants are susceptible to TB due to weakened immune systems from stress, constant confinement and physical abuse. The strain elephants carry can be passed to humans. Children are more susceptible to the disease, and it is children that are more likely to be in close contact with elephants. In July of 2002, all Tarzan Zerbini Circus elephants performing at Shiners circus shows were deported back to the United States by Canadian authorities. The elephants had all been exposed to another elephant that had tested positive for TB. Again, animals are often performing while sick. Veterinarians qualified to treat exotic animals are not always present or available.
The following list of human injuries and fatalities was printed from Zoo check Canada website. For the purpose of this paper, only North American incidents were included, though there were many incidents worldwide.
Performing Animal Incident List - 1976 - 1996
October 26, 1996/Los Angeles, California, USA A zookeeper was seriously injured after being knocked down and stepped on by a 5-ton Asian elephant during a training session. (PAWS, 02/1998)
August 1996/Los Angeles, California, USA Two elephants travelling with ‘Circus Vargas’ died within three days of each other from tuberculosis. Despite obvious health problems, both elephants were performing and giving rides to children right up until their deaths. (PAWS, 02/1998)
July 1996/Quebec, CANADA A 39-year-old Asian elephant attacked her trainer as he was preparing her to give elephant rides at a small zoo. (PAWS, 02/1998)
June 14, 1996/Caspar, Wyoming, USA An elephant rampaged while giving rides at the ‘Jordan World Circus’. The elephant knocked down and repeatedly kicked her trainer and a child. The child was riding the elephant, fell off and had to be sent to the hospital. This elephant also attacked a trainer in Salt Lake City in 1994. (PAWS, 02/1998)
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July 10, 1995/Queens, New York, USA Two elephants from ‘Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus’ began to fight each other. They ran out of the circus tent, crashing into a parked car. Twelve people were injured in the ensuing panic. One of the elephants killed a woman in 1985 and injured a man by tossing him in the air in 1983. (NY Daily News, 07/1995)
May 20, 1995/Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA A group of elephants from the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus were frightened by an impatient driver’s car horn and caused $20,000 damage to cars and shopping mall windows. (The Record, 05/1995)
May 6, 1995/New York, USA A horse, powering a carousel for ‘Circus With a Purpose’, went berserk while harnessed to the ride. The horse bucked and raced around, throwing people off the ride and then trampling some of them. Sixteen people were injured. (PETA, 07/1996)
February, 1995/Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA During the loading of six elephants a crew member of the ‘Tarzan Zerbini Circus’ slipped and was seriously injured by the animals. The employee suffered a crushed pelvis and was listed in critical condition in hospital. (PAWS, 02/1998)
February 1995/Hugo, Oklahoma, USA A tiger escaped from the ‘Carson & Barnes Circus’ and was on the loose for at least three days. (Telegram-Tribune, 02/1995)
November 1, 1994/Von Emroy, Texas, USA A 15-month-old elephant, “Mickey” wrapped its trunk around a 3-year-old girl and tried to pull her into the arena. The girl’s father and a circus worker got the animal to release her. The elephant was a performer for the ‘King Royal Circus’. (PETA, 01/1995)
August 20, 1994/Honolulu, Hawaii, USA During a ‘Circus International’ performance, an elephant named "Tyke" killed her trainer, seriously injured a keeper and injured a dozen people. Afterwards, “Tyke” rushed into the streets where she was shot 86 times before she fell down. After she was given a lethal injection, police fired another three shots into her. (PETA, 01/1995)
August 15, 1994/Honolulu, Hawaii, USA An elephant giving rides at ‘Circus International’, pinned ten people to a fence that separated the first row of spectators from the circus rings. Two out of the ten people were injured. (PETA, 01/1995)
August 4, 1994/Laie, Hawaii, USA A father and his daughter were injured when an elephant kicked a metal barrier at them. (Circuses.com, 08/1998)
August 3, 1994/Coquitlam, BC, CANADA A tiger was caught under a hoop of fire and was burning for approximately ten seconds. The ramp that the tiger was expected to run up to get to the hoop slipped and the hoop of fire fell onto the cat. (Vancouver Province, 08/1994)
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July 18, 1994/New York, USA Shortly before a taping of "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee", a Russian translator was attacked by an elephant from ‘The Great Moscow Circus’, scheduled to perform on the show. (PETA, 07/1996)
June 18, 1994/Columbia, South Carolina, USA A 600-pound tiger mauled an employee at ‘Taylor’s Exotics’. (PETA, 01/1995)
April 1994/Muskegon, Michigan, USA An elephant giving rides at a Shrine-sponsored circus fell into the passenger loading platform, spilling riders, bending the platform, and injuring 3 children. (PETA, 01/1995)
April 6, 1994/Salt Lake City, Utah, USA While two children were riding an elephant, the elephant attacked one trainer and kicked another. The first trainer received a broken arm, broken ribs and internal damage. The other trainer received a broken finger while attempting to control the animal. The incident occurred at the ‘Jordan Brothers Circus’. (PETA, 01/1995)
1994/Montreal, Quebec, CANADA A tiger attacked an animal trainer during a ‘Murat Shrine Circus’ performance. The tiger grabbed the trainer by the hip, dragged her down, grabbed the leg and started pulling her towards the cage. One of the lions came off the pedestal and slapped the tiger with his paw and sent her flying through the air, giving the trainer a chance to escape. The trainer required 18 stitches. (ar-news e- mail, 03/1997)
September 15, 1993/Kansas City, USA A circus employee lost part of an arm when a tiger mauled her as she tried to pet it. (Washington Times, 09/1993)
September 2, 1993/Vallejo, California, USA A radio disc jockey was posing for a publicity photograph atop an elephant at Marine World Africa USA when the animal stampeded across a crowded area, crashed through a wooden fence and threw the man onto a concrete path. (PAWS, 02/1998)
September 1993/Cambridge, Illinois, USA A black bear bit a man’s arm and leg after the man tried to pet the bear. The bear was put down after the incident and checked for rabies. (Journal Star, 09/1993)
July 23, 1993/Minot, North Dakota, USA The female elephant, "Tyke", ran amuck at a state fair. She trampled her trainer, breaking two of his ribs. (Minot Daily News, 07/1993)
June 5, 1993/Fishkill, New York, USA A young man was crushed to death by a circus elephant (one of ten chained ) after he entered the elephant area on the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus grounds at 1:40 a.m. The elephant turned its body and pinned the man to a trailer crushing him. It was not clear whether the man aggravated the animal. (New York Times, 06/1993)
May 6, 1993/Las Vegas, Nevada, USA During the feeding of three lions owned by the‘Fercos Family’ act, a keeper was attacked by one
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of them. (PETA, 01/1995)
May 5 1993/Gainesville, Florida, USA An elephant stomped on the chest of his trainer, killing him. This incident happened at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ elephant farm. (New York Times, 05/1993)
04/21/93 Altoona, PA USA “Tyke“, described in 08/94 incident, injures young girl while charging through arena during Great American Circus performance. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
February 1993/Norfolk, Virginia, USA A lioness mauled a lion trainer as the man tried to break up a fight between two other lions. (PETA, 01/1995)
November 30, 1992/Nevada, USA A tiger attacked his trainer and had to be shot in the hip to let go.(PETA)
September 26, 1992/Reno, Nevada, USA During the ‘Spellbound’ show at the Reno Hilton, a 15-month-old tiger attacked an illusionist after he disappeared from one cage and reappeared in another. (Toronto Sun, 09/1992)
July 15, 1992/Lafayette, Indiana, USA During a ‘Tarzan Zerbini International Circus’ show, nine people were injured when some elephants collided and toppled a barricade. The elephants were being led in a circle when one stopped, causing the collision. (Toronto Sun, 07/1992)
June 7, 1992/Cambridge, Ontario, CANADA A performing elephant at the African Lion Safari stepped on a 14 year-old boy who was leading the female elephant away from a Sunday show for tourists. (Toronto Sun, 06/1992)
February 1, 1992/Palm Bay, Florida, USA A ‘Great American Circus’ elephant “Janet” with one adult and five children on her back ran amuck, attacked bystanders and a policeman, and smashed the stands. Twelve people had been injured by the time the police shot the elephant to death. (Miami Herald, 02/1992)
December 27, 1991/Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA A chimp escaped from her cage at the Fun Fair Park, bit one person and hit another in the head. The chimp was tranquilized and returned to its owner. (PETA, 01/1995)
November 12, 1991/Las Vegas, Nevada, USA During rehearsals for an upcoming show, a woman was bitten repeatedly by a Siberian tiger. The woman’s father beat the tiger in the head with a cane until the tiger released its grip. Later, the animals were confiscated by USDA and found to be in substandard conditions. (PETA, 01/1995)
November 10, 1991/Mangester, New Hampshire, USA A model posing for photos with a lion, suffered cuts to her head and back when the lion bit her in the side of the head. The owner of the lion operates T.I.G.E.R.S. Wildlife Park in Kodak, Tennessee. (PETA, 01/1995)
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March 12, 1991/Las Vegas, Nevada, USA After a magic show at the Sahara Hotel, a lion attacked his trainer while being returned to his cage. (PETA, 01/1995)
1991/Windsor, Ontario, CANADA A circus employee was killed by an elephant. (The Elephant Alliance, 05/1995)
1991/Wilkes Barr, Pennsylvania, USA A women was bitten severely on the arm during a photo session by a liger (lion and tiger) cub owned by ‘Klass Act’ of Sandusky, Ohio. (PETA, 01/1995)
August 9/1990/Rapid City, Michigan, USA A 5-year-old girl was attacked from behind by a leopard as she was walking away from the photo booth where photos could be taken with the animal. The leopard broke free from its restraint. (PETA, 01/1995)
July 8/1990/Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA A tiger from the ‘Shrine Circus’ broke free for nearly 10 minutes until handlers captured it beneath the bleachers. No one was hurt, but hundreds of children and adults were terrified. (Toronto, Star, 07/1990)
July 7, 1990/Portland, Oregon, USA During a ‘Circus Gatti’ performance, two chimps went out of control, dragged their trainer into the audience and mauled a child spectator. (PETA, 01/1995)
June 25, 1990/Sydney, Montana, USA A leopard bit a seven-year-old boy in the chest while she was being taken for a walk. The owner was travelling with the ‘Exotica Circus’ without a USDA license. (PETA, 01/1995)
June 21, 1990/Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA An elephant was startled by a passing car and fell on her handler, crushing the handler to death. The elephant was part of the ‘Hanneford Family Circus’ that was performing at the Thunderbird Swap Shop (a flea market). (Miami Herald, 06/1990)
June 8, 1990/Reading, Pennsylvania, USA During a ‘Great American Circus’ show, an elephant attacked a trainer and rushed into a crowd of more than one thousand people. According to an article, the elephant was not behaving so the trainer stuck a hook in her mouth. (Eagle Times, 06/1990)
April 10, 1990/Oakdale, California, USA An elephant giving rides at a private party was spooked and threw her passengers off her back. The elephant began spinning and bumping into cars before she was brought under control. One passenger was dragged 40 feet before being freed. (PAWS, 02/1998)
August 31, 1989/Essex Junction, Vermont, USA At the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction, an elephant giving rides to children picked up an employee and threw him into a trailer, breaking his shoulder and jaw. The elephant had previously broken another worker’s arm. (PETA, 01/1995)
February 1989/Fort Myers, Florida, USA An elephant “Janet” formerly known as “Kelly” at the Southwest Florida Fair ran through a
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crowd, knocked over concession stands and entered a lake. Eight people were injured. (PETA, 01/1995)
February 7, 1989/Tampa, Florida, USA An animal trainer at ‘Busch Gardens’ was knocked down and crushed to death by an elephant. The next day, the same elephant tried to attack another keeper and trampled a wheel-barrel while the man escaped.(PAWS, 02/1998)
June 21, 1988/Ontario, CANADA A circus elephant hit a man in the back with a tusk, making a large hole in his back. The man was taken to hospital for treatment. (PAWS, 02/1998)
April 1988/Columbia Station, Ohio, USA A 60 year-old man was knocked down and bitten by a performing bear that escaped from a neighbour. The bear is a wrestling bear from World Animal Studies. (PETA, 01/1995)
March 1988/Quebec, CANADA A ‘Shrine Circus’ elephant severely injured her trainer while he led her into the circus ring. (PAWS, 02/1998)
March 5, 1988/Mansfield, Ohio, USA A performing bear mauled a 2-year-old boy as the boy posed for photographs with the animal. The bear attacked between live performances of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ which featured three adult bears and a cub. The bear had previously been involved in an attack in Florida. (New York Post, 03/1988)
February 11, 1988/Jacksonville, Florida, USA A black bear, starring in a travelling circus show, tore a four-inch piece of flesh from the scalp of a 4 year-old boy. The bear was required to push children around in a little car. (Animals Agenda, summer 1992)
February 1988/Toronto, Ontario, CANADA An elephant trainer’s leg was broken when six elephants stampeded in the arena of the Garden Bros. Circus at Maple Leaf Gardens. About 40 elderly and handicapped people who were sitting at ground level narrowly missed injury. (Globe and mail, 02/1988)
October 22, 1987/Houston, Texas, USA At the ‘Texas Flea Market’, a lion mauled an 8 year-old girl during a photo session with the animal. The girl received a cracked skull from the mauling. The lion was shot and killed by a security guard. (PETA, 01/1995)
July 1987/Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA An elephant performing with the ‘Great American Circus’ broke away from her trainer and injured two children who were riding on her back. (PETA, 01/1995)
1987/Pensacola, Florida, USA An elephant bolted across a busy street with two children clinging to its back and fled into the woods. (Honolulu Advertiser, 08/1994)
July 1985/New London, Connecticut, USA
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A 47-year-old woman was killed when she was trampled by an elephant at the ‘Clyde Beatty- Cole Brothers Circus’, which was set up at a mall. The woman was attempting to climb on top of the elephant. (PETA, 01/1995)
July 1983/Chicago, Illinois, USA A Chicago radio station manager fell off an elephant during a promotion for a circus. The incident occurred during a race billed as the "Pachyderm 500". She was hospitalized. (PETA, 01/1995)
1982/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA A cougar used in promotional appearances broke free from his trainer and mauled a 9 year-old boy. The cougar was shot and killed. (PETA, 01/1995)
September 31, 1981/Huntsville, Alabama, USA At a state fair, a man had his finger bitten off by a performing bear from Victor the Wrestling Bear act. (PETA, 01/1996)
1979/Los Angeles, California, USA Actress, Nanette Fabray, was injured by an elephant who hit her in the chest during the filming of a television show. The actress received a concussion and lost control of her eye. (PETA, 01/1995)
1978/Chicago, Illinois, USA Although chained, an elephant owned by the Shrine Circus picked up her trainer and threw him into a pillar, fatally injuring him. (PETA, 01/1995)
1978/CANADA An elephant accidentally killed a former wife of John Cuneo (owner of Hawthorn Corp). The incident occurred while the woman was working for another company. (PETA, 01/1995)
February 11, 1976/Westland, Michigan, USA A lion that was being shown to schoolchildren mauled a 4 year-old boy. (PETA, 01/1995)
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Performing Animal Incident List - 1997 - 2010
April 10,2010/Pennsylvania, USA An elephant became spooked while performing with the James Hamid Circus and tramples it’s trainer to death. (CNN)
March 7, 2009/Indianapolis, Indiana, USA More than a dozen children were injured at the Indiana State Fair when a circus elephant they were waiting to ride was startled and caused some scaffolding to give way. (TheIndyChannel.com 7/03/09)
August 7, 2008/USA A supervisor at a circus training facility in McHenry County suffered scratches and bites to his upper body after being mauled by a tiger. The facility is owned by John Cuneo, Hawthorn Corp. (Chicagotribune.com 8/07/08)
July 12, 2007/Newmarket, Ontario, CANADA Three elephants escaped from the Garden Bros. Circus and wandered into a nearby residential area before being rounded up and returned to their compound. (CTV.ca 07/12/07)
January 31, 2005/Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA An elephant being loaded onto a truck trampled a circus animal trainer to death at Memorial Coliseum, police said. Three handlers were loading the elephant Monday as crews packed up from this weekend's Shrine Circus, Fort Wayne television station WISE reported. Two of the workers left the trailer and one man stayed behind to lock the trailer door. Police believe the elephant crushed the man, who was found later by a Coliseum worker. He died from blunt force trauma to the chest at a hospital a few hours after being found, police said. (Associated Press 01/05)
08/31/05 Springdale, OH USA
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“Dillion,” a Capuchin monkey, is found next day after escaping from Hendricks Bros. Circus. He leapt from his trainer’s shoulder after train whistle frightened him. This is Dillion’s second escape. (The Enquirer, Cincinnati.com)
08/25/05 Mt. Pleasant Township, PA USA Woman suffers sprained wrist and possibly torn ligaments when Asian elephant on exhibit at Westmoreland Fair grabs her wrist with her trunk after woman reaches to pet 8,200-pound pachyderm. Jewel is 1 of 2 elephants owned by Cole Bros. Circus and leased to Wambold’s Circus Menagerie, Florida-based act that travels country with several exotic animals. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, News-Journal Corporation)
08/31/05 Las Vegas, NV USA “Gildah“ an Asian elephant on exhibit with the Siegfried & Roy Show, owned by Ringling Brothers’ parent company Feld Entertainment, dies in her enclosure at Mirage Hotel-Casino. “Gildah“, who was housed alone, was 57. (Associated Press)
07/20/05 Portsmouth, NH USA Circus truck pulling trailer with 2 elephants breaks down on Interstate 95 during trip from Maine to their performance in Massachusetts. (TheWMURChannel.com)
04/13/05 Polk City,FL USA “Tova“ 36-year-old female Asian elephant, kicks her elephant trainer at Ringling Bros.Circus’s elephant breeding facility. Man is airlifted to hospital and suffers fractured pelvis and soft tissue wound. Tova is disciplined with temporary isolation from her peers. Bruce Read, vice president of animal stewardship for center, says, “This is normal elephant behaviour.” (The Ledger)
01/31/05 Fort Wayne, IN USA Elephant fatally tramples her trainer while being loaded into truck. Trainer dies after being taken to hospital with critical chest injuries. Elephant, owned by Tarzan Zerbini Circus, is hired to perform in Fort Wayne Mizpah Shrine Temple’s annual circus at time of trampling. In similar incident, another employee of same circus is injured in 1995 when elephant knocks him to ground and stomps on his abdomen. (Associated Press)
12/05/04 Laredo,TX USA Bengal tiger with Great Circus of China bites and mangles circus worker’s hand after worker got too close to tiger’s cage. Woman is rushed to hospital and is recovering. (WISTV-10)
11/26/04 Evansville, IN USA Chimpanzee with Hadi Shrine Circus bites circus guest during pre-show picture event with guests and animals. Guest is treated at hospital for puncture wound and released. Circus officials report chimpanzee was unprovoked. (WFIETV-14)
11/06/04 Sarasota, FL USA 18-year-old circus worker is bitten by a bear while trying to break up aggressive behaviour among several bears at Big Cat Habitat. Man is flown to Bayfront Medical Center where he is listed in fair condition. (The Tampa Tribune)
09/28/04 Grand Rapids, MI USA Horse with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus is killed shortly after being unloaded from train in which animals traveled. The horse is struck by a charging stallion while standing beside
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the train while other horses are unloaded. Velasquez, 14-year-old palomino who usually leads the unbridled horse act, dies a short time later. Show opens as scheduled. (Associated Press)
07/31/04 Queens, NY USA White tiger, “Apollo“, escapes from Cole Bros. Circus and wanders through park, across Jackie Robinson Parkway, and through nearby residential streets. Incident causes multi-car accident, and four adults and one child suffer minor injuries. 450-pound tiger is eventually coaxed back into his cage. (Associated Press)
07/14/04 Fresno, CA USA Lion with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus is found dead after crossing Mojave Desert in circus train, en route from Arizona to Fresno, CA. Circus is awaiting results of necropsy. Show opens as scheduled in Fresno. (KFSN-TV, Channel 30)
05/11/04 Dayton, OH USA Two Norwegian Fjord horses traveling with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus die after they are hit by a train while being unloaded from train in which they traveled. Horses are struck when freight train unexpectedly goes through area. One horse dies instantly, other is euthanized at scene. (Dayton Daily News)
04/25/04 Spokane, WA USA At least eleven cats are killed when a travel trailer parked inside Spokane Veterans Arena for El Katif Shrine Circus catches fire. Owners are thought to be subcontractors who provide animals to circus. As firefighters try to control heavy smoke coming from arena, another bobcat runs through legs of firefighter to escape smoke. Security worker and circus employee are treated for smoke inhalation. (Spokesman Review)
08/05/03 Milwaukee, WI USA During Siberian tiger act at UniverSoul Circus, tigers are not willing to obey commands from trainer, who is the only person in the cage with them. Tigers do perform some tricks, along with some errant behaviour and several threatening swipes at trainer. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
October 3, 2003/Las Vegas, Nevada, USA While leash walking a tiger across the stage, Roy Horn of the Siegfried & Roy magic act was mauled and critically injured by a tiger during the show. The tiger bit Horn on the right arm, then lunged at him, bit him on the neck, and dragged him across the stage in front of 1,500 audience members. Horn suffered bite wounds and massive blood loss. The tiger had been performing since he was 6 months old. (Zoocheck, 10/03) 06/11/03 Brownsville, TX USA
04/30/03 Columbus, OH USA Alligator bites animal handler at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus while being moved from public viewing pit to an outside arena. Handler suffers 6 punctures to right hand. Audience at performance is unaware of occurrence. (Columbus Dispatch)
03/21/03 Lincoln, NE USA “Fort Worth,” a 7-year-old Shetland pony with Shrine Circus, bolts from auditorium back door during performance. Pony runs against traffic down middle of street before pedestrians catch him. (Associated Press, The New York Times)
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02/03/03 Jacksonville, FL USA “Chad” a 450-pound Bengal tiger with UniverSoul Circus, squeezes through opening between his cage and holding cage and escapes. Climbing over a car and a fence, Chad startles police officer and drive-in worker at a nearby Wendy’s before circus workers coax him back inside cage. 100s of people witness Chad’s escape. (Associated Press, The Florida Times-Union, WJXT-TV Channel 4 (IND) Jacksonville)
08/00/02 San Jose, CA USA Frightened zebra outside Ringling Bros. Circus dashes down public street, endangering himself and bystanders. Fortunately, no one is injured during animal’s rampage. Two years ago, 2 zebras escaped from same circus on same street. (In Defence of Animals)
06/19/02 Menomonie, WI USA “Tory” and “Mary,” two elephants performing with Shrine Circus, bolt out of the circus tent during show, scattering crowds. Mary hikes 2 miles through town and is recaptured at University of Wisconsin-Stout campus when trucks block her route. One child is injured, and elephants damage door at park and cause $600 in damage to city truck. Shriners had contracted with George Carden Circus for event. (Associated Press)
05/10/02 Sacramento, CA USA Tiger refuses to return to cage following performance of Circus Gatti during Ben Ali Shrine Circus, prompting evacuation of spectators from arena. Both Sacramento police and SWAT teams are called and dispatched to scene. Tiger eventually tranquilized and returned to cage. (Sacramento City Police Report)
03/13/02 Easley, SC USA “Tonya“ elephant belonging to Robert Childress and used in various circuses, escapes control of her handlers while she is loaded into trailer, flees into nearby woods, and is recaptured with assistance of police. This is 4th time that Tonya has run amok (see 06/21/00, 02/16/98, and 08/28/97). (Associated Press)
10/27/01 Charlotte, NC USA Two elephants leased by Hawthorn Corporation to Circus Vazquez rampage through church. Two church members are nearly trampled, and children are quickly ushered to safety. Elephants crash into church through glass window, break and buckle walls and door frames, and knock car 15 feet, causing estimated $75,000 in damages. Elephants suffer cuts and bruises. one elephant had rampaged twice before (see 07/10/95 and 05/19/95) (Charlotte Observer and Associated Press)
03/25/01 Allentown, PA USA Poisonous cobra bites snake charmer in front of crowd of about 500 people during performance of Royal Palace Circus. Man rushed to hospital for emergency treatment. (The Morning Call)
June 22,2000/Washington PA “Tonya” with Circus Hope became frightened when approached by children with toy horns, she escaped from her handler and was later led back by police, security personnel and trainers. It was reported that all the animals were “on edge” from the noise from the highway and the surface of the parking lot.
06/07/00 Loves Park, IL USA Police shut down 2 lanes of highway while they try to corral 10 ponies loose from Sterling &
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Reid Circus. No injuries reported to ponies or residents. (Rockford Register Star)
06/02/00 Hartford, CT USA 2-month-old colt with National Hispanic Circus runs loose in parking lot and collides with slow- moving car. Animal is euthanized after determining that leg is broken beyond medical help. (Hartford Courant)
04/20/00 Yucca Valley, CA USA Elephant with Culpepper and Merriweather Circus breaks loose following performance, steps on circus ticket-taker and wanders down local street before being captured by circus handlers. Ticket-taker suffers possible broken hip. After elephant recaptured, three circus horses get loose and are returned by workers. (Associated Press)
04/02/00 Metairie, LA USA Bear traveling with Sterling and Reid Bros. Circus topples out of circus trailer and onto Interstate 10, stalling traffic for 3 hours while wary motorists contain animal and wait for help. (The Times- Picayune)
01/26/00 Riverview, FL USA Elephant at winter facility of Ramos Family Circus breaks away from tether and attacks and stomps to death female family member. Other elephant at compound involved in 02/21/99 incident at Poughkeepsie, NY. (St. Petersburg Times)
February 1999/USA While performing with the ‘Royal Hanneford Circus’, an elephant charged into the crowd, stomping through several rows of chairs, injuring many people, including several children. (PAWS, 04/1999)
August 5, 1999/Toronto, Ontario, CANADA During the ‘Lights, Camera, Animals’ show at Paramount Canada’s Wonderland, a lion bit two trainers causing minor injuries. The lion was controlled with a fire extinguisher. (Toronto Star, 08/99)
May 16, 1999/Timmins, Ontario, CANADA Between performances of the ‘Leonardo Circus’, an elephant killed an employee. The worker was assisting the trainer, prepping the elephant for a show when the he was kicked in the head and fell backwards. (Timmins Daily Press, 05/1999)
04/24/99 Duluth, MN USA Elephant traveling with Tarzan Zerbini International Circus breaks free of rear shackle and seriously injures circus worker. (Duluth News-Tribune)
02/21/99 Poughkeepsie, NY USA Elephant in Hanneford Circus escapes ring and charges toward crowd. 3 people injured while fleeing. (Poughkeepsie Journal)
November 1998/Gainesville, Florida, USA A white Bengal tiger lunged at its owner and bit her on the neck, killing her. The tiger had killed a trainer in October. (Pinellas Times, 11/1998)
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October 8, 1998/Gainesville, Florida, USA A white Bengal tiger bit a trainer in the neck and killed him. The trainer was trying to keep the spooked tiger under control when the attack happened. The tiger is part of an act that tours the world showing exotic cats at circuses and fairs. (Pinellas Times, 11/1998)
11/21/98 Chicago, IL USA Tiger with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus escapes from cage and seriously wounds animal trainer. (Associated Press)
02/16/98 Mentor, OH USA Circus elephant panics at high school, runs off for quarter mile, damages police car. (Associated Press)
02/09/98 Lincolnton, NC USA Leopard attacks trainer during Royal Palace Circus show. (Charlotte Observer)
01/07/98 St. Petersburg, FL USA Tiger with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus grabs trainer by head and drags him around ring, inflicting severe head injuries. (Reuters)
January 7, 1998/St. Petersburg, Florida, USA During a photo shoot, a ’Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ employee was attacked from behind by a tiger. The 4-year-old tiger bit a baseball-sized chunk out of the trainer’s head. The man was kissing another tiger for a promotional photo. After the incident, the victim’s brother shot the tiger 5 times with a shotgun while the tiger was caged. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 01/1998)
February 11, 1998/Charlotte, USA A leopard nearly killed its trainer during a circus act in front of 100 people at the ‘Royal Palace Circus’. The leopard bit the trainer on the head and arms. (ar-news e-mail, 02/1998)
August 1, 1998/Minot, North Dakota, USA A five-year-old boy was attacked by a tiger in an exhibit where people can have their pictures taken with the tiger. (Saturday Free Press, 08/1998)
June 18, 1998/West Salem, Wisconsin, USA During a storm, a horse trampled a ‘Reid Brothers Circus’ worker when the wind collapsed the tent sending people scattering. (ap-news e-mail, 06/1998)
February 16, 1998/Mentor, Ohio, USA An elephant panicked and ran from the high school where the circus was performing. It was caught a quarter mile away outside of a discount store. The day before, a zebra charged at a woman in the stands and butted her in the head. (Circuses.com, 09/1998)
August 27, 1998/Syracuse, New York, USA An elephant, travelling with the Commerford Petting Zoo, rampaged while giving rides at the New York State Fair. The elephant knocked down and stepped on her trainer and injured a child. (Sarasota Herald-Journal, 08/1998)
March 17, 1997/Grand Rapids, Missouri, USA A bear at the ‘Shrine Circus’ bit part of a finger off a two-year-old child. The bear was in a cage
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and was reportedly muzzled. The finger could not be reattached. (ar-news e-mail, 03/1997)
April 13, 1997/Calgary, Alberta, CANADA An elephant giving rides at the ‘Al Azhar Shrine Circus’ bit and knocked down one of its handler. The circus refused to remove the elephant from public performances. (Edmonton Sun, 04/1997)
05/07/97 Carrollton, PA USA Tiger with Frazen Bros Circus kills trainer in front of 200 kids. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
May 28, 1997/Gainesville, Texas, USA An elephant trainer was crushed to death by an elephant at the Frank Buck Zoo after entering the animal’s cage to move it to another area. (PAWS, 02/1998)
06/28/97 Seagoville, TX USA Man who enters animal area for Clyde Bros. Johnson Circus is attacked by elephant and suffers broken arm and dislocated shoulder.
06/14/96 Casper, WY USA Elephant with Jordan World Circus is frightened by horse and knocks down and repeatedly kicks her trainer. Elephant giving rides at time at Central Wyoming Fairgrounds. One child falls off elephant during incident. (Casper Star Tribune)
03/05/96 Comfort, TX USA Two elephants from King Royal Circus are scheduled to race down Highway 473 carrying riders from local high school. Before race begins, one rider falls off elephant’s back and suffers two broken ribs, arm and wrist injuries. Trainers move elephant away to avoid further injuries. Race continues when another rider volunteers and both riders take turns riding 2nd elephant. (The Boerne Star)
09/30/95 Indianapolis, IN USA Lion with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus bites off index finger of woman who puts hand in cage. (Associated Press)
07/10/95 Queens, NY USA Two elephants with Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus become agitated and go on rampage, triggering panic among spectators. Seven spectators treated for minor injuries. (Associated Press) 05/19/95 Hanover, PA USA
Two elephants with Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus go on rampage at mall, smashing store windows and damaging cars. One elephant had killed woman in 1985. (Gettysburg Times)
05/06/95 Bronx, NY USA Horse traveling with Circus With a Purpose “goes berserk” and tips over children’s cart, causing panic. Twenty children and two adults treated for injuries. (Newsday)
02/06/95 Fort Wayne, IN USA Elephant with Tarzan Zerbini Circus steps on circus employee, causing crushed pelvis. Incident occurs as workers load animals and equipment following close of the circus. (News-Sentinel)
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08/04/94 Laie, HI USA Elephant with Circus International knocks down metal barrier at arena, pinning family to bleachers. (Associated Press)
04/06/94 Salt Lake City, UT USA While giving rides at Jordan World Circus, elephant picks up, tosses, and steps on trainer, causing internal organ damage. 2 children riding elephant are unhurt. (Associated Press)
06/05/93 Fishkill, NY USA Elephant with Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus pins man against trailer at circus grounds and crushes him to death. (New York Times)
05/05/93 Williston, FL USA Elephant at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus compound knocks down trainer, stomps on chest, kills him. (Associated Press)
04/21/93 Altoona, PA “Tyke“ described in 08/94 incident, injures young girl while charging through arena during Great American Circus performance. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
04/17/93 Little Rock, AR USA Siberian tiger with Jordan Brothers Circus escapes into stands during Shrine-sponsored circus performance. 13-year-old girl is bitten, causing 7 puncture wounds on back of leg. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
02/24/93 Norfolk, VA USA Trainer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is mauled when breaking up fight between 2 lions. (Virginian-Pilot).
10/14/92 Bloomington, MN USA Before performance of Zuhria Shrine Circus, elephant rides are given. After several trips with children and adults on its back, elephant loses balance and grabs trainer with mouth. One child suffers scrape on leg. Trainer suffers gash on upper leg and is taken to hospital. Elephant rides are again performed at intermission and after show. (United Press International)
07/14/92 Lafayette, IN USA Elephants are being led around ring at Tarzan Zerbini Circus when 1 stops and next elephant bumped into 1st, knocking it into barricade, which topples into crowd. 9 people are injured and 1 woman is taken to hospital suffering from panic attack. (Washington Times)
02/01/92 Palm Beach, FL USA Elephant with Great American Circus rampages and charges midway in circus tent while giving rides. Woman and 4 children taking ride are rescued but elephant hits police officer, uses her trunk to throw him twice to ground. Animal is shot and killed by police. 12 people are injured during panic, none seriously. (Miami Herald)
04/18/91 Wilkesboro, NC USA Leopard with Great American Circus jumps out of ring and bites 3-year-old girl on neck. (Charlotte Observer)
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06/20/90 Miami, FL USA Circus elephant with Hanneford Family Circus is startled by passing car while being led to appearance at swap shop. Elephant falls on her handler who is crushed to death while animal struggles to get back on her feet. (Miami Herald)
06/08/90 Reading, PA USA Elephant with the Great American Circus goes on rampage, injuring her trainer and one spectator. (Reading Eagle) Undoubtedly, two of the most striking incidents are of two separate accounts of elephants on a rampage. The stories of “Janet” and “Tyke” are important because they were caught on film and played for the world to see what happens when elephants have had enough of the torment and abuse.
On February 01 1992 in Palm Beach Florida, while performing with The Great American Circus, “Janet” an Asian elephant whose main job was to give rides to children, injured her trainer and charged out of the tent with a mother, her two children and three other children on her back. Trainers and police were able to remove the woman and children, but “Janet” was loose on the streets destroying anything in her path. One police officer and a dozen others were also injured. “Janet” was shot to death by police.
“I think these elephants are trying to tell us that zoos and circuses are not what God created them for. But we have not been listening”. -Officer Blayne Doyle- Who shot 47 rounds into “Janet”
After his retirement, Officer Doyle has been a strong advocate regarding the dangers of elephants in circuses. He has worked tirelessly to have elephants banned from circuses. On June 13 2000, Officer Doyle provided testimony to the Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime in support of a bill that would prohibit the use of elephants in circuses and rides.
On August 20 1994, in Honolulu Hawaii, “Tyke”, a female elephant with Circus International, trampled and killed her trainer and injured her groomer. After fleeing the area, “Tyke” ran the streets for thirty minutes. Police fired 86 bullets into her until she finally collapsed and died. “Tyke” became the poster elephant signifying the abuse suffered by elephants in the circus. Several lawsuit were filed with circus, the city and the state.
It is interesting to note that both Janet and Tyke had previous acts of aggression. “Tyke” had three prior incidents. In 1989, “Janet” then known as “Kelly” at the time, broke free from a petting zoo at a Southwest Florida fair. She charged through the midway and plunged into a lake. At the time she had three young children on her back. Afterwards she was sold to a circus outfit, had her name changed to “Janet” and continued to give rides to children.
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LAWS AND THE CIRCUS
The world’s first law banning the use of all wild and domesticated animals in circuses was passed in Bolivia in July 2009. The law states that the use of animals in circuses “constitutes an act of cruelty”. The law was proposed after an undercover investigation by the non-profit group - Animal Defenders International (ADI) found widespread abuse in circuses across Bolivia. (source: The Huffington Post & Associated Press UK)
Croatia, Singapore, Austria and Israel have also banned the use of wild animals. Costa Rica, Denmark and Finland have banned the use of certain species. There are several other countries where several municipalities, cities and townships within have either banned the use of performing animals or have placed severe restrictions on what animals can be used.
British Columbia leads the nation with the most municipalities that have either banned the use of animals in circuses or restricting the kinds of animals that can perform. They are: Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Cowichan, Delta, Kamloops, Kelowna, Langley, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, New Westminster, North Cowichan, North Vancouver, Parksvilles, Saanich, Salmon Arm, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria. Prince George does not permit elephant rides or bears and elephants to perform. Other provinces are beginning to do the same.
Jordan World Circus has been denied a permit for three Asian elephants on grounds that it failed to meet safety requirements. The permit was denied under new BC regulations around breeding, trafficking and keeping of exotic species in BC. The permits were denied by the Ministry of Environment. The Jordan World Circus entered BC without the two permits required to transport and display wild and exotic animals. The Jordan World Circus was allowed to continue to display animals until July 29th when the permits were denied because circus officials did not have a safety plan to protect spectators in the event of an elephant breaking loose during a performance.
In the future all circuses will have to apply two months in advance for permits before entering BC. (The Province article Aug.05/10)
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SUMMARY
With documentaries like “Earth” and the “Life” series, we are given an incredibly intimate look at the all the wonder, beauty and complexities that nature has to offer. Because of technological and scientific advances we are able to see the animal kingdom in a way we have never before seen. We see the affection and playfulness towards one another, the ability to problem solve, to work individually or work as a team. The sheer tenacity to protect their young, to succeed and to adapt to their environments.
Elephants are sensitive and highly intelligent, social creatures. The oldest female is the matriarch of the herd and each herd is made up of family members. They have a strong family bond that could rival that of humans. Females stay in the herd for life, and rearing the young is a co- operative effort. Their success in the wild is the capacity to use and share wisdom that is handed down generation after generation. Bears are denied their biological right and need to hibernate, forage and hunt. Big cats often caged alone or with one other big cat, where in nature they would live in a pride of ten to twenty, working cohesively to hunt.
The circus offers none of these opportunities. Animals are doomed to a life of misery. Performing animals rarely make it out of the circus alive and into a sanctuary. Many die at an early age from lack of veterinary care, stress, physical abuse and psychological issues.
There is a lack of education with regards to the dangers of performing animals and how poor welfare of these animals are related to potential escapes and attacks. The community trusts that when the circus rolls into town, that the animals that their children come into contact with are disease free, trained, safe and stable. Most probably do not consider if emergency personnel in their communities are trained and equipped to handle situations, like an escaped tiger or a rampaging elephant.
It is time to encourage circuses that use human acts only. People are capable of performing amazing feats that defy the imagination. More importantly, people in the circus perform of their own free will. They are not threatened, beaten, verbally assaulted or held prisoner. They love what they do and do it to entertain an audience. And that is something this writer can respect.
Dave Hancock; former director of the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle; “ When circuses portray animals as freaks and curiosities, devoid of context or dignity, circuses are perpetuating outdated attitudes. Wild animals in the circus are reduced to mere caricatures of their kind, exhibited just for financial gain. In this way, they corrupt our children, promoting the notion that exploitation and degradation is acceptable, even brave or funny”.
The following is an excerpt from the “Life” series: “Mammals have deep and instinctive bonds between mother and young. This early bond is the basis of all other relationships. Co-operative hunting and maternal mothering are the hallmarks of mammals. Mammals exhibit the most
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complex social behaviours in the animal kingdom. The key to our success may not lie in our warm bodies and big brains, but in the strength of our relationships between the many or just two.”
- Oprah Winfrey - narrator “Life” series.
REFERENCES
Zoo Check
School of Biological Sciences UK
The Huffington
The Province
San Diego Citybeat
CNN website
Royal Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals UK
Guardian UK Associated Press
LIFE - The Series
PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society)
The Elephant Alliance
Mercy For Animals
Save Wild Elephants
PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals)
Circuses.com
Letter from Penny Sharp requesting a by-law that will ban Page 60 of 62 circuses that use wild & exotic animals in their acts.
Letter from Penny Sharp requesting a by-law that will ban Page 61 of 62 circuses that use wild & exotic animals in their acts. Letter regarding North Cariboo Highway Rescue Society - Page 62 of 62 update