Senator Murphy passes bill to protect performing elephants

Work With Pace Environmental Students Comes to Fruition 

Albany, NY - We live in an enlightened society where the mistreatment of animals is not only frowned upon, it is a crime. Because of the wonderment and joy we associate with going to the circus, many of us are unaware of the abuse elephants go through for our amusement. Inspired by a conscientious group of Pace University students, Senator Terrence Murphy has taken on the role of ringmaster in saving performing elephants from abuse. To protect pachyderms, Senator Murphy sponsored S2098A, a bill enacting the "Elephant Protection Act," which prohibits the use of elephants in entertainment acts. The bill was passed by the Senate today and sent to the Assembly for a vote.
 
The Elephant Protection Act safeguards all elephants from the physical and psychological harm inflicted upon them by living conditions, treatment, and cruel methods that are necessary to train elephants to perform in entertainment acts. The only exemptions to the Act include zoos, aquariums, wildlife sanctuaries and non-profit environmental education programs. Any entertainment act that fails to comply may be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation.
 
"Thankfully, attitudes have changed. It is no longer acceptable to disregard the mistreatment of animals in captivity," said Senator Murphy. "Elephants are intelligent, intuitive animals. They are often tortured by trainers who use extreme forms of physical restraint, such as chaining them for up for twenty-two hours a day. In order to get them to comply, they will hook or stab an elephant in the body. It has been said that 'elephants never forget.' Neither should we. This type of heartless behavior has to end."
 
The Elephant Protection Act was inspired by the students at Pace University's Dyson College of Arts & Sciences Environmental Policy Clinic who recognized the injustice being perpetrated against circus elephants and vowed to act. Working with Senator Terrence Murphy, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, and Pace faculty members John Cronin and Michelle Land, the students created the Elephant Protection Act.
 
In a positive sign of our enlightened times, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus, one of the main culprits in the mistreatment of elephants, concluded 146 years of performances with a final show at New York's Nassau Coliseum on Sunday, May 21.