Vintage Antwerp Zoo--Terrarium Hall

Vintage Antwerp Zoo--Administration Building

1843

Year Unknown

Vintage Antwerp Zoo--Hoof Stock Building

1843

Year Unknown

Vintage Antwerp Zoo--Giraffe House

1843







2007

Vintage Antwerp Zoo

1910

1843



2009

Spurs/Bullhooks--Are they different or are they the same tool?

Enlarge these photos of Madame Col. Dianne Olds Rossi and an officer in the Bethel, Penn. mounted unit to view a roweled spur with varying degrees of "sharpness." They also have two form's of "control" for their one ton animal, in addition to spurs, a bit. Madame Col. additionally has two dressage whips because of the advanced behaviors Fire Magic performs, that the police officer doesn't have given the basic behavior's his horse performs. Why the effort to begrudge an elephant trainer even one to "control" his 3,4, or 5 ton animal? Ask the officer and Madame Col. to get rid of their bit and spur's and still conduct their duties and performance day in and day out. Feel good bridle less demonstration are temporary exhibition's done in a controlled environment, with the bit replaced and used to practice. It is not performed out in the open, day in and day out, with the bit removed, never to be used again. A feel good bridle less demonstration is what the elephant trainer at Monte Carlo did........ The magician's trick has been revealed, and now you have some fact's with which to make a decision on the bullhook. Change the name of a spur to "encourager" and it still serves the same purpose of a spur. Call a bull hook an ankus, a guide, a conductor's baton, or a magic wand and it still serves the same purpose of a bull hook. What ever became of calling a "spade a spade?" Activist's will wrongly tell you a bull hook is not necessary and it should be banned. That's because in their world of spin and misinformation, they know it is indeed necessary, but if it can be banned that is another step in stopping the performance of elephants. They won't ban the spur, because it would be impossible to stop 10 million horse trainers and their performance. Much simpler, and cheaper to stop 10 elephant trainers and their performance. If those 10 elephant trainers were of color, the female sex, handicapped, or immigrants the "whining my world, all mine far left" would be clamoring to their defense instead of banning them into non existence.

A Year & Three Month's Old, Nov. 13, 2011, But Worth Another Look.

The bill aims directly at traveling circuses by seeking to outlaw exotic or wild animals from performances if they have been traveling within the previous 15 days. The law is the first attempt for a decade to put an end to the circus routines, which animal rights activists say are based on cruel training methods and harsh, unsafe living facilities. (Photo: ZUMA Press)

U.S. circuses circle their wagons against elephants law

By Sebastian Smith, AFP

Nov 13, 2011

U.S. circuses are circling the wagons against a proposed law in Congress that would ban using elephants under the big top, a tradition that animal rights activists say causes terrible suffering.

The bill, introduced this month in the House of Representatives by Virginia Congressman Jim Moran, aims directly at traveling circuses by seeking to outlaw exotic or wild animals from performances if they have been traveling within the previous 15 days.

That would mean an end to the days of elephants balancing on stools, tigers and lions jumping through fiery hoops, monkeys on wheels, or other popular staples of the ring.

"It is clear that traveling circuses cannot provide the proper living conditions for these exotic animals," Moran said in a statement.

He noted that zoos, aquariums, horse races and permanently housed animals used for shooting movies and other filming events would not fall under the ban.

The law is the first attempt for a decade to put an end to the iconic circus routines, which animal rights activists say are based on cruel training methods and harsh, unsafe living facilities.

America's most famous big top outfit, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey, sent out an email appeal to supporters this week, saying "the Greatest Show on Earth" needed help "to make sure this family tradition continues."

Stephen Payne, a spokesman, said the bill was not pro-animal, but simply against circuses.

"It's to do with putting Ringling Brothers and other circuses out of business," Payne told AFP.

"This is just anti-circus legislation that's really not necessary because we're already inspected and regulated under federal laws, state laws and local laws in almost every state we play."

Payne said animal rights groups did not understand the circus business and were out of touch with Americans.

'Mr. Payne, that's a very, very weak argument, "did not understand the circus business and were out of touch with Americans." Did you make that up? I ask because I can't believe that was in the GSOE Dealing With The Press Booklet.'

"They are at the fringe: they don't want animals for entertaining, they don't want them for food, they don't want them for pets," he said.

"What we get are millions and millions of families coming to see Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey."

According to Ringling Brothers, their circuses not only treat elephants well, but help preserve the Asian elephant breed, thanks to a self-sustaining, 50-strong herd that has seen 23 births since 1995.

The company also funds elephant conservation programs in the United States and in countries such as Sri Lanka.

"Asian elephants have been part of Ringling Brothers for 141 years," Payne said. "P.T. Barnum once brought his elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge to convince New Yorkers it was structurally sound."

'Mr. Payne, if you had studied the history of P.T. Barnum's elephants while attending media school, I don't think you would want to give the impression that he was the gold standard for elephant husbandry, bridge walks aside for a moment. I'm just saying........'

But Ed Stewart, from the Performing Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS, said Ringling's elephants are not nearly as happy as their gaudy outfits and circus tricks are meant to suggest.

"There is no state of the art keeping animals in captivity. The state of the art is Zimbabwe and India and the wild, the hills of Virginia, but not in cages," he said at a press conference after the bill was introduced.

'I note Mr. Stewart didn't mention California is his learned "state of the art keeping animals in captivity" statement. Can we assume he woke up to the reality that the "barred enclosures" and "fenced pastures to prevent unwanted interaction" the elephant's are "free" in at PAWS, are actually cages???? Size and type is speculative, but a cage is a cage, Ed.'

Stewart said children should stop being shown circus animals altogether.

"Real educators have to overcome what children see in the circus. It would be better if they didn't even have an experience with an elephant or a tiger or a lion if that's the experience," he said.

'Ed, you are going to alienate future donor's with that kind of talk. They are going to think they are not welcome to see the "circus elephants" and partake of a free buffet on Donor Appreciation Day. Dump the whole load on Barker, and he'll be out in the street in no time. Then what?'

Spurs Used On Police Horses In Atlanta Despite County Ban OR Bullhooks used on circus elephants in Atlanta despite county ban

The Atlanta mounted police unit currently has twelve officers, all wearing spur's with now fear of reprisal for "animal abuse." Eleven officers and their mounts are assigned to patrol a regular beat and special details, such as festivals, parades and other community events. One additional officer and three horses are in training. The unit is expected to expand to 18 officers and mounts over the next 3 years.

Equestrians(which would include Atlanta's mounted police unit) commonly wear spurs to emphasize their leg aids. The leg aids, USUALLY(interpret "usually" for yourself) pressing the heels against the horse's sides, urge the mount to move off or transition from a slower gait to a faster gait. When spurs are applied, the horse feels a SHARPER(sharp as a tack or a sharp tongue?) urgency from the rider and PAYS CLOSER ATTENTION(you can interpret this as "controlling an animal hundreds of pounds larger then you") to what the rider is asking it to do. When properly used, spurs are an extension of your leg aids, allowing your cues to the horse to be SUBTLER AND MORE REFINED(you may not even have to use them each time, but they are still there, just in case......... Like a bull hook off stage Ernie or a bull hook held wrong with the metal hidden in your hand to hide it from pubic view.) Learning how to ride wearing spurs so that you don't desensitize or PHYSICALLY HARM( oh, so it is possible with a spur) your horse takes practice and EXPERIENCE.( So I guess it doesn't matter if YOU own it, or how many generations of family trained before you.)

For anyone who has been isolated on an island for the last 1000 years, and has just been rescued, enlarge these picture's if you don't know what a spur is. It is the "tool" on the end of the "leg aid" which extends from the police officers crotch down to his ankle. It has been called the same thing, serves the same purpose for centuries and centuries. Still used today, still called a spur, and still not banned. What's up with that?

Laura Moss from Mother Nature Network and I are going to co-author this story to see if we can make sense of this insanity!!!!!

Fulton County banned bullhooks in June, but a superior court judge overruled the ban for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Laura

Fulton County banned spurs in June, but a superior court judge overruled the ban for the Atlanta Mounted Police Unit. Wade

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be allowed to use bullhooks on elephants during its performances in Atlanta this week despite a countywide ban on the devices. Laura

The Atlanta mounted police unit will be allowed to use spurs on horse's while it escort's Whitney Houston's funeral procession in Atlanta this week despite a countywide ban on the devices. Wade

Bullhooks are tools with long handles and a sharp hook at one end that allows trainers to apply varying degrees of pressure to sensitive spots on an elephant’s body. Circuses say the tools are necessary for the safe handling of elephants, but critics say bullhooks are harmful to the animals. Laura

Spurs are tools with long shanks and often a rowel with varying degree's of sharpness that allows mounted police officers and horse trainers to apply varying degrees of pressure to sensitive spots on a horse's body. Mounted police units say the tools are necessary for the safe handling of horse's, but critics say spurs are harmful to the animals. Wade

In June, Fulton County commissioners voted for a ban on the controversial devices, becoming the first Georgia jurisdiction to do so, but on Tuesday, Feb. 14, a Fulton County Superior Court Judge issued an order that temporarily overrode the ban. Laura

In June, Fulton County commissioners voted for a ban on the controversial devices, becoming the first Georgia jurisdiction to do so, but on Tuesday, Feb. 14, a Fulton County Superior Court Judge issued an order that temporarily overrode the ban. Wade

In his order, Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger said the city of Atlanta had not adopted an elephant ordinance of its own. He also said there is no intergovernmental agreement between the county and the city for animal control services, which enforces the ban. Laura

In his order, Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger said the city of Atlanta had not adopted a horse ordinance of its own. He also said there is no intergovernmental agreement between the county and the city for animal control services, which enforces the ban. Wade

However, Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts says the city has been paying for and using those county services.

 "It says to me even in the absence of a signed document there is an implied agreement and therefore we have the right to enforce this provision in the city of Atlanta," he told The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Laura

However, Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts says the city has been paying for and using those county services.

 "It says to me even in the absence of a signed document there is an implied agreement and therefore we have the right to enforce this provision in the city of Atlanta," he told The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Wade

Pitts says he supports the bullhook ban because he believes the tools are harmful to elephants. Laura

Pitts says he supports the spur ban because he believes the tools are harmful to horses. Wade

Steven Payne, a spokesman for Feld Entertainment, the parent company for Ringling Brothers, says that the bullhook is simply “an extension of the handler’s hand” and that it is “an invaluable tool in the humane and safe handling of elephants.” He also said that without the use of bullhooks, Ringling Brothers would have canceled its Atlanta tour, which began on Wednesday at Phillips Arena. Laura

Joe Paloca a spokesman for the city of Atlanta, who employ's the Atlanta mounted police unit, says that the spur is simply “an extension of the policeman's leg” and that it is “an invaluable tool in the humane and safe handling of horses.” He also said that without the use of spurs, the mounted unit would not be able to carry on it's duties at Phillips Arena, or anyplace else in Atlanta, for that matter. Wade

Animal rights group People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals staged a protest outside the arena on Wednesday with a large inflatable elephant wearing a sign that read, "Step Right Up! See shackles, bullhooks, and loneliness at the circus." Laura

Animal rights group People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals staged a protest outside the mayor's office on Wednesday with a large inflatable horse wearing a sign that read, "Line Up Here! See bit's, spur's, and other tool's of subjugation used by the police unit to dominate their lonely horses." Wade

theFulton County officials are considering citing circus workers for cruelty to animals if there is evidence of abuse, animal control official Tony Phillips told the AJC on Wednesday. Laura

Fulton County officials are considering citing police officers for cruelty to animals if there is evidence of abuse, animal control official Tony Phillips told the AJC on Wednesday. Wade

'There, it should be crystal clear what is going on here in the Land of The Free and The Brave.'

Circus Sues for Right to Prod Elephants--Excuse Me, Mr./Ms. Filip. Your Bias Is Showing. Maybe You Shouldn't Be Allowed To Report? .

Circus Sues for Right to Prod Elephants

February 15, 2012

By IULIA FILIP - Courthouse News Service

ATLANTA (CN) - A traveling circus challenged Fulton County's "elephant ordinance," which prohibits the use of "bull hooks" on elephants.

Bull hooks, also known as elephant goads, are long-handled sticks with a sharp point at the end and a hook curving off from the point. They are used to control and direct elephants by poking and hooking them in sensitive areas.

Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, claims the ordinance should not apply to events in Atlanta, because the city has not adopted it and does not have an agreement for animal control services with the county.

Feld Entertainment sued Fulton County, its Board of Commissioners and the county's top code enforcer Tony Phillips, in Fulton County Superior Court.

Most of metropolitan Atlanta is in Fulton County.

Fulton County adopted the "elephant ordinance" in June 2011, at the urging of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other animal advocates. The ordinance bans the use of bull hooks on elephants within unincorporated Fulton County.

"The legislation further expressly 'encourages the municipalities within Fulton County to adopt ordinances prohibiting the use of bullhooks on elephants, and the clerk to the Commission is directed to forward an executed copy of this resolution and code amendment to the mayor of each municipality located within Fulton County,'" according to the complaint.

The circus, which is scheduled to perform in Atlanta from Feb. 14-20, says the ban applies only to events in municipalities that have adopted similar rules or have signed an agreement with the county for animal control services.

It claims Atlanta is not one of them.

The complaint states: "On or about Feb. 6, 2012, plaintiff contacted the County's Animal Services Division ('Division') Director Murray Goldthraite providing details of the Feb. 14, 2012 arrival of its circus animals and FEI personnel contact information for animal and facility inspections. No indication was made by Mr. Goldthraite or any other division personnel that the county elephant ordinance would be applied during the plaintiff's city of Atlanta tour stop.

"On Feb. 10, 2012, the county informed the plaintiff of its intent to enforce section 34-212 within the city limits - despite the text of the legislation and the county's representations during the consideration of the legislation - during the circus's city of Atlanta tour stop. Defendants further threatened to subject the plaintiff to criminal penalties and possible impoundment of its elephants. ...

"Defendants sent the Feb. 10, 2012 correspondence to the plaintiff only after plaintiff became aware of the county's intentions to illegally enforce section 34-212 against UniverSOUL Circus ('UniverSOUL'). After becoming aware of the county's correspondence with UniverSOUL on Feb. 9, 2012, plaintiff demanded that the county provide formal correspondence indicating their intentions regarding the enforcement of section 34-212 against plaintiff. Upon information and belief, plaintiff believes the defendants intended to wait until the plaintiff arrived in the city of Atlanta on Feb. 14, 2012, to inform plaintiff of the county's intentions to enforce section 34-212 despite having ample notice of plaintiff's Atlanta tour stop dates."

The circus says the county's interpretation of the ordinance is inconsistent with its previous position.

It claims the county elephant ordinance "was adopted in response to pressure from advocacy groups and without adequate study or understanding of animal control methods mandated by federal and state law."

And it claims that the ordinance will harm its business and reputation and will make its performances unsafe.

"Absent the ability to utilize the proper elephant tools, plaintiff will not only be limited in its ability to assure the safety of the public and its employees during performances and transit of its elephants, but will also be deprived of its ability to properly move, feed, exercise, and otherwise care for the elephants when not performing in violation of federal and state law," the complaint states.

The circus says the county never responded to its objections.

It wants to stop the county from enforcing the ordinance.

Feld Entertainment is represented by Charles Palmer with Troutman Sanders.

Response - In response to the lawsuit, PETA issued this statement: "The legislation banning bullhooks was passed because of a serious commitment by the citizens and commissioners of Fulton County to prohibit this sort of animal abuse in their community. The Municipal Code of Atlanta very clearly incorporates all of the Fulton County animal control ordinances - including the bullhook ban. PETA is concerned that the clearly worded prohibition and the wishes of Fulton County citizens have been disregarded without a proper legal basis. Bullhooks, as admitted by Ringling trainers and executives, are used to beat, jab, hook, and yank elephants in order to force them to obey. There are only two uses for a bullhook: to inflict pain and to instill a fear of pain. While a ban on the use of bullhooks is an important step in the right direction, it is now clear that anyone who cares about elephants and other captive exotic animals must make the compassionate decision never to attend a circus that uses animals."

Class, Sit Down Please. SIT DOWN!!!!! Thank You. Your New Words For Today Are Guide & Tool, Which Together Make "Guide Tool."

While animal rights advocates staged a protest Wednesday against a circus at Philips Arena, Fulton County commissioners voiced displeasure with Atlanta's refusal to go along with the county's ban on a controversial elephant training tool.

The issue started as a spat between Fulton and Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus over the use of bullhooks by elephant handlers. It quickly evolved into a territorial dispute, with county officials miffed the city would not support their ban on bullhooks inside city limits.

The circus opened Wednesday night after winning a ruling two days earlier from a Fulton County judge, who handed down an injunction barring enforcement of the county ordinance in Atlanta.

During a county commission meeting earlier Wednesday, several commissioners, furious that Atlanta took the circus’ side, suggested the county stop providing animal control services in the city. That includes picking up dead, stray or dangerous animals.

If the county let all of its impounded dogs out onto Peachtree Street, Commissioner Bill Edwards said, that might get the city’s attention.

“Who let the dogs out?” Edwards said. “If I don’t have a signed agreement, then I don’t have to deliver any service.”

County officials are considering citing circus workers for cruelty to animals if there is evidence of abuse, animal control official Tony Phillips said Wednesday. A spokesman for the city declined comment.

Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals brought its own elephant to the sidewalk outside Philips Arena hours before the first show: a large inflatable pachyderm wearing a sign that read, "Step Right Up! See shackles, bullhooks, and loneliness at the circus."

"Here, the judge clearly buckled under pressure from Ringling Brothers," said Matt Bruce of PETA, referring to the injunction won by the circus. "We're calling on the city and county to enforce the ban that's already on the books."

About 20 people lined up in front of the arena's ticket booth, holding signs depicting pictures of elephants being prodded with bullhooks and being restrained with ropes. Some even called out to a group of about 50 schoolchildren who were passing by, saying, "I hope you're not going to the circus."

Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Brothers, said the circus has a long record of caring for animals despite PETA's claims about the bullhooks.

"That's incendiary rhetoric. ... They're trying to inflame the situation and upset people," said Stephen Payne, spokesman for Ringling Brothers. "PETA doesn’t have any real knowledge of what it takes to care for an elephant."

Fulton was the first Georgia jurisdiction to approve a bullhook ban, following cities and counties in Florida, South Carolina, New York, Kentucky and Indiana. County commissioners voted for the ban in June.

The ban was supposed to apply only to unincorporated south Fulton, the only area commissioners have direct governance over. County officials said then that if Atlanta wanted to forbid the use of bullhooks, the City Council would have to adopt its own ordinance.

However, Fulton commissioners changed their tune after discovering city codes that say any adjustment to the county’s animal ordinance applies in the city. Fulton handles animal control countywide, with cities paying for the service; Atlanta paid the county $1.2 million last year.

Atlanta’s attorneys have said the city has no formal contract with Fulton on animal control, and therefore the county's bullhook ban doesn't apply within city limits.

Feld Entertainment went to court Monday seeking relief from the local ban because of concerns circus performers wouldn't be able to use bullhooks during their shows, which will run from Wednesday through Feb. 20.

"They cannot have the Circus without the elephants, and they cannot have elephants without using these guide tools," Feld attorney Charles Sanders said in an email to the city Monday. "This will be a huge revenue loss for the City and for the Circus, and the Circus will be unable to return to the City."

Atlanta City Councilman Lamar Willis echoed those concerns Wednesday when told of Edwards' suggestion to stop providing animal control in the city.

“I think that’s absolutely insane,” Willis said. “We serve many of the same people, and I think sometimes we forget that. They didn’t elect us to be dictators over anything.”

Courtesy of John Goodall

World's Tiniest Frog Found in Papua New Guinea

Discovery News

Jan. 12, 2012 -- With voices hardly louder than an insect's buzz, the tiniest frogs ever discovered are smaller than a coin and hop about the rainforest of the tropical island of Papua New Guinea, report US scientists.

Not only are these little peepers with the big names - Paedophryne amauensis and Paedophryne swiftorum - the smallest frogs known, they are also believed to be the smallest vertebrates on Earth, according to a report published in the science journal PLoS ONE .

Until now the smallest vertebrate was believed to be a transparent Indonesian fish known as Paedocypris progenetica that averaged about eight millimeters.

The largest vertebrate is the blue whale, measuring about 25.8 meters.

The little land frog Paedophryne amauensis comes in at a whopping 7.7 millimeters. The other newly discovered kind, Paedophryne swiftorum, measures a bit over eight millimeters.

The dark brown frogs with bluish-white specks have likely existed for a long time, underfoot and out of sight on the rainforest floor, eating smaller prey or being eaten by bigger predators.

"The ecosystems these extremely small frogs occupy are very similar, primarily inhabiting leaf litter on the floor of tropical rainforest environments," says Austin.

"We now believe that these creatures aren't just biological oddities, but instead represent a previously undocumented ecological guild - they occupy a habitat niche that no other vertebrate does."

In fact, judging by the frequency of male mating calls they heard, Austin says the tiny frogs might be spaced as close as 50 centimeters from each other on ground beneath the leaves.

PHOTOS: 'Pinocchio' Frog Among Species Found in 'Lost World'

Top 10 New Species Named: Photos

BLOG: Is the Tasmanian Tiger Alive?

'It sure doesn't seem to be beyond the realm of possibility any more, does it?'

From Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Official Website

Alexander Lacey

Highlights:

· The Lacey family has raised more than 11 generations of lions and nine generations of tigers and continues to develop methods to maintain the integrity of the various bloodlines within the cats’ lineages.

· Alexander Lacey communicates with the cats in English and German. Each of his cats has its own unique behaviors, characteristics, body type and even sounds. Alexander knows each cat so well that he can identify the cats by listening to their roars.

· Alexander has earned numerous awards and accolades, including “Best of the Best” at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, Silver Clown award in Monaco, and the Chapiteau de Crystal Award in France.

Alexander Lacey

Big Cats Trainer and Presenter

Making his American debut with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® Presents DRAGONS, Alexander Lacey, along with his assembly of big cats that includes lions and tigers, will perform for the first time in the United States.

Originally from Nottingham, England, Alexander is the oldest of three sons. He grew up learning about big cat husbandry while his father, Martin, was a zoo and circus director and his mother, Susan, traveled the world and presented a mixed act of tigers and leopards. The family has raised more than 11 generations of lions and nine generations of tigers and continues to develop methods to maintain the integrity of the various bloodlines within the cats’ lineages. Big cat husbandry and presentation continues to be a family affair. His father still performs and Alexander’s younger sister, Natasha, and younger brother, Martin Jr., work in Germany with Circus Krone.

Education was very important to the Lacey family. At age 11, Alexander left Nottingham to attend school in Lincolnshire, England. He was always counting the days until the next holidays. “I couldn’t wait to come home to the circus and help with the animals – especially the big cats,” Alexander reflects.

After graduation, he began his professional career at his father’s circus and built his first cat presentation with lions and tigers. A few years later, at age 21, Alexander took his big cat act on the road. While spending his entire life around big cats, he not only grew up with the regal animals, but he also developed a true passion and love for them which became his career path.

While presenting his cats in Ireland, Alexander couldn’t take his eyes off a dazzling trapeze artist, Elaine, the daughter of the show’s director. They have been together ever since and now Elaine and their daughter Katrina both help Alexander with his cat act.

Before coming to America, Alexander spent the last several years touring with his big cats throughout Europe, including France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. He has earned numerous awards and accolades, including “Best of the Best” at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, Silver Clown award in Monaco, and the Chapiteau de Crystal Award in France.

Alexander’s typical day starts at 6:30 a.m., when he waters and prepares the cats for act practice. He observes each cat and watches for their natural characteristics and then incorporates their behaviors into the act for the show. Once practice is over, it’s time to eat! Each cat consumes around eight to 16 pounds of meat daily. By 10:00 a.m., it’s time to clean up, get another round of drinks and play! The cats love to play with branches, balls and water basins. During the evening, the younger cats practice. Right before bed time, each cat gets a serving of warm milk and liver oil, which keeps their coats healthy and shiny.

Alexander communicates with the cats in English and German. Each of his cats has its own unique behaviors, characteristics, body type and even sounds. Alexander knows each cat so well that he can identify the cats by listening to their roars.

Not only do the cats have distinct physical differences, but their personalities are unique also. “The lions, Goldy, Princess and Marley love to play in the water. Goldy is also mischievous and Marley is more aggressive. Mariah, the tiger, likes to have her own space,” Alexander adds.

“Along with their mothers, we’ve helped raise them since birth. These cats are truly a part of my family,” Alexander attests. “Our family dog, Timber, feels the same way. He plays along with them when he’s not looking after them.”

To train these cats,” Alexander says, “is the most rewarding thing for me. I hope I can continue to do so for many, many years to come.”

“Being here in America with my family and my cats is really a dream come true for all of us,” Alexander adds. “It’s a new challenge and opportunity for us. We are pretty excited to see the United States, from coast to coast as we tour with DRAGONS.”

'Accepting the standard practice of "circus hyperbole" how many errors are to be found in this circus biography?'

Should I Not Take My Kids To The Circus?

Mother Nature Network

Q: So, I just caught the film adaptation of “Water for Elephants.” Great film (love that Robert Pattinson) but the depictions of animal abuse left me a bit shaken. I know the film was a historical drama and assume that the treatment of circus animals has changed for the better over the years, but I wonder if it has changed enough. Is the very presence of animals at circuses — no matter how they are treated — cruel? Normally, I take my two circus-loving boys to the big top when it comes to town, but I’m thinking about calling it off this year and forever. Am I overreacting or being smart? Are there any traveling non-animal circuses that I should keep an eye for?

Selma, Chandler, Ariz.

A: Hey Selma,

Glad you liked “Water for Elephants.” I’m not one for circus-themed historical romances, but I’m sure it was refreshing to see a more flush-cheeked, non-fanged Mr. Pattinson not running around the backwoods of Washington state.

After watching the film, I don’t think the impulse to stop taking your kids to the circus is overreacting (although I doubt it was the film producers’ intention), but this is also a difficult question to provide a definite “yes” or “no” answer for because it’s so subjective. It all comes down to what you define as animal abuse and not where an advice columnist with a mild case of coulrophobia or an over-the-top, exploitative organization like peta (hello again, subjectivity) draws the line.

Do you define it as the flagrant mistreatment of captive animals (i.e. causing them physical harm to induce pain)? Or does your definition span much wider to include zoo animals and carefully trained and transported wild animals featured in films like “Water for Elephants” where abuse is depicted but not actually performed? Is every wild animal, be it a lion, a tiger or a bear, living in captivity, no matter what the situation, being abused? Just a few circus peanuts for thought ...

And the decision about taking your kids to the circus should be solely yours, since I’m not going to tell you that the circus — whether it’s the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey or a smaller operation — is an evil institution that you shouldn’t support. And I’m not going to delve in the law suits, allegations surrounding the treatment of circus animals. There’s plenty of saddening, shocking information out there, if you choose to seek it out. (Much of it has come to light in the wake of a tragic 1994 incident involving a rogue elephant at a circus in Hawaii.)

Matt


'Let's cross our finger's and hope no one get's hungry enough to do another "Water For Elephants" any time soon, and quit trying to convince me that it didn't affect the current situation badly, and "people are smart, they will understand it is just a movie and Hollywood theatrics."
With the exception of the recent S & L fiasco and prior to that the tobacco industry debacle, I don't think any industry has fallen so quickly and so badly in the arena of public opinion then the circus. I so wish with all my heart the world accepted individual actions do not make a whole industry.'

Plankendael

This excerpt, from a private email from Simon DeWinter: "Did you know Antwerp zoo is relocating its asian herd to a brand new exhibit in its other park "Plankendael"? Antwerp will host young bulls in the future." surprised me as I was not aware that Antwerp had a "satellite zoo." Another great day, as I learned something new. Simon, who is currently in his masters year of communication at Antwerp College has a great European Circus blog www.circusdays.be

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My Personal Physician Dr. Josip Marcan

People are amazed at my athletic prowess and often ask how at my age I have managed to stay at such a peak of performance power. It is all owed to the attention and monitoring of my skilled personal physician, the renowned Dr. Josip Marcan, pictured above and below with his wife and new son. Initially Dr. Marcan denied the child, claiming that not only had he never set foot in Croatia, but also "I don't even know vat is this Croatia!!!!!" Eventually, when the result's of the paternity test came back, Josip being a man of medicine and character, did the right thing and brought Anna and little Joey to the land of the free and the brave. I am happy for his happiness.

The Marcan's

Josip Marcan writes:

"Just arrived home after taking Little Joey to Disney World for the first time, but as you can see the trip wore him out. You often told me how wonderful it is having a son and I am finding that out. I am excited for the day when he is big enough to start training tigers."

I hope all is good in Mexico,

Your friends,

Josip, Anna, and Little Joey

At Dallas Zoo: Will giraffes accept the elephants?

By Terry Gardner, Special to Tribune Newspapers

February 7, 2012

Last September when I visited the Dallas Zoo, I learned about its pioneering efforts to re-create an African savanna by mixing elephants and hoofed critters. Although other zoos have mixed giraffes, zebras, guinea fowl, etc., Dallas is the first zoo in North America to add elephants to the mix.

The 11-acre Giants of the Savanna exhibit opened May 28, 2010, with six post-reproductive elephant cows. There are no males, because bull elephants often are more aggressive. Nicknamed the "Golden Girls," Jenny, Gypsy, Kamba, Congo, Mama and Stumpy range in age from 30 to 47.

They have mixed with all the hoof stock except the giraffes. But the giraffes and the Golden Girls have explored one another's habitats and shared hay.

Lynn Kramer, the Dallas Zoo's deputy director of animal conservation and science, said the giraffes don't seem to care when they see the elephants in their habitat. But the elephants watch what the giraffes do in the Golden Girls' habitat.

In October, Kramer visited the Boras Zoo in Sweden, which has been mingling elephants and hoofed mammals for more than 20 years.

"They have four elephant cows and half a dozen giraffes," he said. "They stay in the same barn at night across from each other, and they enter the exhibit the same way. I saw elephants 20 feet away from giraffes, but the staff says they get even closer."

Mingling the animals must be done gradually because of the size, strength and personality of the elephants, Kramer said. "We will handpick some individuals to start it with, then separate them out," Kramer explained. He hopes that at least some of the giraffes and elephants will be mingling by summer.

Courtesy of John Goodall

Poachers Kill 200 Elephants in Cameroon Killing Spree

Poachers have killed more than 200 elephants in Cameroon in just six weeks, in a "massacre" fueled by Asian demand for ivory.

A local government official said heavily armed poachers from Chad and Sudan had decimated the elephant population of Bouba Ndjida National Park in Cameroon's far north in a dry season killing spree.

"We are talking about a very serious case of trans-frontier poaching, involving well-armed poachers with modern weapons from Sudan and Chad who are decimating this wildlife species to make quick money from the international ivory trade," said Gambo Haman, governor of Cameroon's North region.

Speaking on local radio, Haman said some of the poachers were on horseback and operated in cahoots with the local population, who were given free elephant meat and were glad to be rid of animals that damage their crops.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said cross-border poaching was common during the dry season but the scale of the killings so far this year was unprecedented.

"This latest massacre is massive and has no comparison to those of the preceding years," the group said in a statement.

Citing a record number of large scale ivory seizures in 2011, TRAFFIC, a conservation group which tracks trends in wildlife trading, has warned of a surge in elephant poaching in Africa to meet Asian demand for tusks for use in jewelry and ornaments.

Underlining the clout of the poaching force, Haman said a group of 50 had killed six Chadian soldiers who tried to arrest them as they fled with the ivory.

"In January we counted 146 (elephant) carcasses and since the beginning of this month we've had close to 60 already. This may only be a tip of the iceberg as some may have been killed in parts of the park that we cannot access," Haman added.

Cameroon has dispatched a rapid reaction force to the zone but Haman said there were not enough troops to cover the remote park in Cameroon's far north.

IFAW said it was not clear how many elephants remained in Cameroon but a 2007 estimate but the figure a between 1,000 and 5,000.

TRAFFIC has said that the spike in poaching and illegal ivory trade in Africa was a direct consequence of China's investment drive into the continent.

Courtesy of Henry Penndorf

Bob Barker Upon Receiving Word That A Fulton County Superior Court Judge Issued a Temporary Restraining Order Lifting a Ban On bull Hooks

For John Milton Herriott--Josip Marcan Copying Me In the Mid 80's

You will note that Josip hasn't yet reach my skill level, as he has laid down liger, tabby, white, tabby white, tabby, tabby!!!!!!! white, tabby. That really shit's up an every other color laydown/oblique but it is a nice attempt none the less. :)

Here we see two tabbies have gone to the outside making the whole thing "guacamole" in my way of thinking. A few more years of videotaping me, and Josip should get it right. :)

Col. Bros--1941

Claire Heliot

Leslie's Monthly Magazine published in 1904

Jackie Zerbini

Josip Marcan

Daniel Suskov--Cirque Zavatta 1992

Unknown

Mary Chipperfield--Blackpool Tower Circus

Captain Hans Naumann--Ringling Bros. 1960

A Snow Cone and Free Child's Ticket For Anyone Who Can Name This Trainer/Act

Additional hint

The New Issue of Spectacle Magazine Online Available

The new issue of Spectacle is now online at www.spectaclemagazine.com It includes an extensive gallery of images from Monte Carlo, publisher Ernest Albrecht's review of the recent festival and background information about the history and management of the Monte Carlo festival.

"Author/Circus Fan Of America Ernest Albrecht was recently sent a copy of a recently published "circus book" for his review, and he respectfully declined as he was mentioned in the book. In my mind, that is a pretty noble stand to take. It is often to tempting to "sugar coat" something beyond what it is that has been done by a friend or mentions you in favorable terms. It is just as tempting to "slough" something great that has been done by an enemy or mentions you in unfavorable terms.

I will have to take exception to this comment in the Monte Carlo Festival review "He is in one of the aisles that circles the tent, giving barely audible spoken cues, proving that it isn’t the bull hook that gets an elephant to work" in regards to an elephant seemingly working alone.

Folks, fans and professionals alike, we have got to stop making excuses or patches for the elephant hook. It is no different then a spur or a whip, or a spray bottle, except if it is in the wrong hands. It is the individual, not the tool that abuse's. The elephant was in fact working because of the bull hook regardless of how far away it was. The hair brush on the table your parent's used to paddle you with wasn't why you behaved proper, it was the threat of that brush being picked up off that table that made you behave properly. In order for it to be effective, initially it had to be used, so you knew what it purpose was. After that it was totally up to you whether it came off of the table and was engaged, or stayed where it was. In order for a leg to be placed against a horses side and he moves away from it, initially the leg/spur had to be used. A dog doesn't react to the spray bottle(for goofs who use one) sitting on the counter, he reacts when it is picked up and engaged. It is his option whether it sits on the counter, or is picked up and engaged. In order for even a dog to understand what his options are he had to be taught what the consequences of choosing the wrong option were. Sprayed in the face for the wrong option, rewarded with right option of not getting sprayed in the face, and reinforced with a food reward. He learns to choose the right option, if he has any sense at all, because he respect's you, and just as importantly he knows the spray bottle is close at had, should he "forget" and need reminding. STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE BULL HOOK, UNLESS YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO BAN SADDLES, BITS, WHIPS, SPURS, DOG COLLARS, LEASHES, ETC. ETC. INSTEAD INCRIMINATE THOSE WHO USE THESE TOOLS IMPROPERLY!!!!!!'

Jerry Irvin AKA Jules Jacot

Jerry and Ruth Irvin Howes Great London 1922 Gordon Jones Collection



Jerry Irvin(Jules Jacot) and his 7 male lions set up behind the tent for the filming of the movie SOMEONE TO LOVE Howes Great London 1922 Gordon Jones Collection

Courtesy of Bob Cline

"Mlle Auora"--Bostock Wild Animal Circus 1898

Does anyone know what "Mlle Auora's" real name was. If you could go back in time, I sure would like to spend a couple of year's around Frank Bostock and his trainers. What an incredible world it must have been.