ELEPHANT ABUSE

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."                          Mahatmas Gandhi     

photo by Betsy Seeton in Bali

I took the photo of this chained elephant at a tourist elephant riding center in Bali near Jan 1, 2007. I was investigating abuse of animals for a freelance article. Unfortunately, my computer was later stolen with all my notes, interviews and contact info. I interviewed the owner of the center in Bali. He told me as a small boy he helped his father brutaly slaughter hundreds of elephants with machetes. He was trying to make up for the atrocity by providing elephants a better life through his commercial operation. He admitted, that unfortuantely, due to the laws of his country and lack of funding, he didn't have near enough land to adequately support the elephants. Consequently, and horrifically, they are chained 24 hours a day if they weren't being ridden by tourists. He reluctantly let me photograph many chained elephants. Some had horrible wounds from the incessant chains.

I spent this morning in activist mode. It began by viewing a video of elephant abuse at Barnum & Bailey Circus sent by In Defense of Animals. I couldn't even watch the whole thing. It just ripped my heart out. It motivated me to post the video on a new page under CHIPPY & FRIENDS on my website in a drop down box called DON'T GO TO THE CIRCUS.  (And by the way - please don't go to the circus! Find out why by visiting my newly created link.)

I also wrote all the zoos in Colorado asking what their policies are regarding circuses and to urged them to stop all support and associations with Barnum & Bailey. Please learn about what goes on behind the scenes and do not support the abuse by attending a cirucs performance. Abuse is inherent in their training methods.