Courtesy of Mark Rosenthal

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid96975757001?bctid=1118261878001

From peta India. "Anything peta has to be viewed with skepticism. I don't see the "beatings" that they purport is captured on this clip. What I see is the animal being "desensitized" which is a common practice for large animals, most notably horses. Watch closely, the animals are being touched/stroked with the sticks, not beaten. What is the "mark" on the elephants head? I can only speculate but it is most likely from rubbing on a tree. It sure wasn't caused by an elephant hook, or "guide" as it is now "pc" referred to as, even by the Greatest Show on Earth.

I received the below email a month ago, and have been wanting to address it, and now may be a proper time. It was sent by a long time circus fan, who is now wondering if "it is really right." Any comment's from readers would be appreciated, as I think the concept of "perception" or not really understanding is one of the toughest things about what it is an animal trainer does:"

Hello..

I had wondered if you received this original email of mine(see below) re Ringling's

young elephant "persuasion"... as evidenced on the site I've linked.

(see it attached)

(I must say the photography is first-rate!)

Then.. I leaned of your "AOL" problem.. and am re-sending attached to

this email. I had first thought.. it's TOO hot to handle... but.. then I thought...

NO... nothing's TOO HOT for you!! (smile!)

Meanwhile..

Wow.. Many thanks for all your photographs.. and circus/zoo

insights and discussions.

Hello..

Wow... What a beautiful show which you're showing in your great photos.

(Got a "kick" out of your horse-drawn "recycling" photos today!)

Question.............

I just found this PETA site which has a slide show supposedly showing how Ringling trains?

young elephants.

http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/circuses.aspx

As you know by know.. I LOVE circuses.. and elephants in particular.

After viewing these slides several time even I am beginning to feel this is "inhumane" treatment of an animal.

(I know.. I know..

from your "teachings" you might/do even feel the term "inhumane" should not be applied to an

animal!) (Friendly smile! I am paying attention!). The facilites look top-notch (you'll have fun with that!),

and the padded restraints seem (to my untrained eye) to alleviate topical injury.

BUT... should I ask.. IS.. "compassionate restraint for profit" on any animal justified??????? -

even without "wands" or electrical prods??? It does seem a bit distance of the "protected contact"

of elephants in zoos who supposedly learn from "favorite snacks".

Always learning......

"It is as simple as this, Sammy Haddock formerly known as Slamming Sammy, former member of the Buckles Woodcock elephant crew, had a long time to come forward with his allegations. That he chose to shortly before dying as a "remorseful" decision is simply ridiculous. I should think he would have stopped working with elephants long before if he truly felt remorse. Note on the link you provided that when it is suggested a "hot shot" is being used, the picture is "conveniently" blocked by text/wording, so that you really can't tell or see what it is they are suggesting. You bet it is a top notch facility. The best of it's kind anywhere in the world, known as the "RBBB Elephant Conservation Center."

Even simpler, every trained animal in the world is "restrained". Newborn foals have a halter put on at birth, and within a week or so are put on a lead line, with a "butt rope", simply a loop of rope placed over their hips, and taught to lead and follow the handler. The "butt rope" is pulled or pressure applied to the hips/hocks of the foal causing them to move their back end away from the pressure, encouraging them to move forward. Puppies are fitted with a collar and leash and encouraged to follow the handler and thus taught to lead. Shock collar's are used to teach a dog to stay within a designated "yard/area". Falcon's are fitted with leashes, jesses, and taught to wear a hood. Camel foals are trained to lead with a halter. Adult amels are taught to go left and right with reins when then are ridden. Dolphins, Killer Whales are "restrained" by the wall's of their pool, etc. etc. etc. etc. What in the world is wrong with "restraining" an elephant calf? An animal that will grow up to weight a half dozen ton's or more. What is any more wrong with teaching that animal the concept of "restraints," then teaching a foal to lead so that it is "manageable/handleable as an adult? Think about it, why is there a "new" assumption that elephants are any different then any other animal that is being trained for a specific purpose. Do you really think an animal "just does something?" Hook a set of harness to a Budweiser wagon, and wait to see how many Clydesdale's walk up, get into that harness, for the pure pleasure and enjoyment of pulling the wagon to entertain the folks in the seats. Not much chance. They wait until the harness is place on their backs, their hooked to the wagon, and then and only then, when the driver is in the seat and say's "gid up" do they pull the wagon.

An elephant calf is the most vocal of all animals with a vast array of sound's at their disposal. Folks who don't understand those "sounds" will often misinterpret what they are seeing or hearing. No different then a horse foal, except the horse foal doesn't have the vocabulary at it's disposal that an elephant calf does and is not able to "over dramatize" it's situation."

"Protected contact" is not 100%. Might it be someday in the distant future with refinement and learning? Who knows, possibly and maybe? At the moment it isn't. It is a "kinda control." Bottom line, if the animal doesn't want to, it doesn't have to. If you have a dog that sometimes comes when you call, and sometimes doesn't you have an animal that is a danger to others, as well as you, or at the very least will probably get whacked by a car, attempting to run away from you."