For klsdad

I am posting this comment, as a thread because it is probably one of the most thought provoking statements that I have read on any circus blog in 4 years. It is spoken from the heart, and it took extreme courage. A statement in which someone has more to lose then to gain should be applauded for it's nobility. KLSdad has asked what hundreds have stated in private, but lack the courage to state it publicly. If more fans were this forthcoming, instead of seeing that their friend gets nominated for the "congeniality trophy", we may have a better idea, of what it is the public wants :

Wade.. Wade... (Or more politely.. Mr. Burke.. Since we haven't met I've tried to acquaint myself with your acclaimed accomplishments via the various circus sites.
BRAVO>>!!
You MIGHT (I say.. most humbly) know of me from Buckles' site.. among others...

Now listen what you've done!! (smile!)

First off... I'm an elephant lover.. (as opposed to elephant fan!) and a circus fan!! I've even had fantasies of having an elephant of my own!!

I post this here... because...

While viewing the video of this magnificent animal (Alexander?) in his natural habitat (albeit in an enclosed park.. one of the oldest!).. I suddenly started to
realize I don't think I want to picture HIM with a sequined blanket, a befeathered showgirl, or a YELLOW wig. What's happening to me??? In the 8 minutes of this video I've received as much joy as with ALL of the elephants I've seen in captivity.. zoos, circuses.. put together. What's happening to me??? HELP!!
I'm currently reading "Zoo - A History of Zoological Gardens in the West" with a wealth of history and photographs. Whole-heartedly recommend it. As you may know, it traces the collection of wild animals starting back to the first known "zoos" in ancient Egypt.

(Back to my thoughts)

Somewhere along the way, traveling menageries of unusual and "wild" beasts became fashionable and profitable in days long before TV - or streaming video from an African waterhole. As far as elephants, the domestication of Asian elephants for work and ceremonial events served as an indicator that they could be displayed, and even trained without too much trouble. Then, and I'd like to learn who, someone "persuaded" an elephant to stand on it's hind legs or another elephant's hind quarters (which I'm not sure is natural for female elephants.) Adding sequined blankets and showgirls followed.

What to do??

I'm not sure our new zoo elephant enclosures are the answer, or sanctuaries. I'm concerned, for example, that the herds at the Tennessee sanctuary will have all 2,000 acres damaged in short order. Talk about loss of habitat!!

Do you think we should concentrate in keeping elephants in these large parks and watching them via cameras instead of having children see their first live elephant with its body/head covered so she fits in with the decor of the show??

No.. I'm not jumping ship!! I have my ticket for ZZZ at the Garden Mar 26 - Opening night!!

All good regards..

klsdad
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klsdad,
Don't suckup to me!!!!! I know exactly who you are. You are the guy who looked at a tiger doing the most phenomenal corbett over two tigers, conditioned to the peak of athletic power and strenght, and thought she was skinny. You are also the same guy who posted a video of an elephant getting tortured with water sprayed from a garden hose on youtube. Am I right? Am I right? LOL Of course I know who you are. Are you sure we did not meet one year at the Garden? Or at the Meadowlands? The above statement klsdad, was to illustrate how folks should not jump to any conclusion until they have balanced all the facts at their disposal, not just the facts as they want to hear them, thus becoming informed, with an open mind and no bias.
I know how you feel looking at the video of Alexander. I have felt the same way since I was a boy growing up in North Dakota, watching herds of antelope. The reality is it will only stay that way if we protect it, monitor it, and conserve it. That may require culling, or the selling of game licenses for the legal harvesting of surplus animals, so you better get used to the idea of death as a necessary evil, to keep it at least where it is at, with no further deterioration. Capturing and bringing surplus in to circus's? Absolutly not unless it is strictly for a breeding program. Into zoo's? Absolutly not, unless it is strictly for breeding, and only to facilities that have met the facility criteria. As Alexander had his place so do "captive Alexanders" if the purpose is humane, and they are beautiful with blankets as well, as in a beautiful zoo exhibit, if the humane protocol is met. The book you reference is a wonderful book, there are a great many like it which illustrate the great strides zoo have made, and are continuing to make. Are there similar books illustrating the great strides circus has made, or great strides sanctuarys have made? For the last two you have to take folks word for it, and I will advise you in advance to take that word with a grain of salt. If dog pounds, horse sactuaries, feline sanctuaries have been deemed necessary, I don't know how we can deny elephant sanctuaries. They just all need to be held to the same standard, zoo, circus, sanctuary alike. The Prince of Monaco, which holds your circus festival every year, donated his zoo animals to a sanctuary, as he didn't feel they deserved to be in a zoo or in a cage. What does that say to you, the Circus Fan of America who loves animals? Your own OABA/circus unit endorsed the same Monaco, while Ned the Elephant performed at one of the President of OABA's circus dates in Maine? What does that say to you, the Circus Fan of America who loves animals.
Elephants were originally, I think used in the circus to set up the tent's etc. before mechanics, as they had been used in the lumber industry. The performing I believe was because of "you are here, you gotta do something." Most of what you hear about "natural" is hockum. The British Circus is right now, claiming that doing a mount is a "natural positon for breeding!!!!" An animal has a natual ability to do things, but the minute they do it for any other purpose but their own, it is no longer natural. An animals body and how it is constructed is what allow's it to do what it does, not the training.
Rest assured the Elephant sanctuary will not have the 2000 acres damaged in short order. They have laid it out nicely, and I am sure they will monitor and "pasture" rotate. Any trees that are damaged, well, that's just the nature of the beast. And it is no more loss of habitat then the acreage needed for a zoo, or the acreage needed to build a barn or a winter quarters. I don't approve of sanctuaries purely on the basis of spending funds on an animal that is of no purpose, whether it be horse, cow, elephant, tiger, etc. I love animals that much. The funds spent on feeding old. beyond breeding age animals or castrated animals could be so much better spent on that conservation we spoke of earlier.
And it goes without saying that I think there is absolutly nothing wrong with the training of an animal, again as long as it is done in a humane manner with a purpose in mind, by adaquatly skilled individuals.
I thank you for the wonderful insightful comment. It may show many that maybe, we don't know what people want, and it is better to let them tell us in an open, no fear of reprisal forum.
Have a good time at the show. It may not be the Greatest Show on Earth any more, but it is still the best out there.
Wade