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Animal Advocates Cry Foul on Circus Practices
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 18, 2008
Modified Mar 18, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 18, 2008
Modified Mar 18, 2008
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In anticipation of tonight's Elephant Walk and Ringling Bros.' Madison Square Garden stay until April 6, a number of animal advocates held a rally outside MSG today to support City Council Introd. 389, which would prohibit "the display of wild or exotic animals for public entertainment or amusement."
“We have been educating the City Council about the plight of wild animals in the circus for the last two years and Intro 389 is now a bi-partisan effort sponsored by 21 members of the 51-member Council,” said League of Humane Voters of NYC executive director John Phillips, who also urged New Yorkers to get their city council members to support it. The Humane Society's NY State Director Patrick Kwan praised how the bill aims "to end the cruel transport, abusive training, and inhumane conditions of elephants and other endangered or threatened animals in circuses."
Here's some background on the bill (introduced by City Council member Rosie Mendez) from the LHVNYC (PDF) -- the Wildlife Conservation Society's zoos (like the Bronx and Central Park zoos) are exempt, because they are educational institutions which teach people how animals behave and interact - the Bronx Zoo is actually phasing out its elephant exhibit. Here's information from the Humane Society about issues with circuses and animal-free circuses.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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