Elephant Falls into Audience Area During Circus Krone Guest Performance in Osnabrück
At the premiere performance of Circus Krone in Osnabrück, an elephant was rammed by two of its fellow animals on Wednesday and fell into the audience area. At least one spectator was injured. The incident once again shows that wild animals such as elephants do not belong in the ring, according to Dr. Yvonne Würz, specialist advisor for animals in zoos and circuses at PETA.
At the premiere performance of Circus Krone in Osnabrück, an elephant was rammed by two of its fellow animals on Wednesday and fell into the audience area. At least one spectator was injured. The incident once again shows that wild animals such as elephants do not belong in the ring, according to Dr. Yvonne Würz, specialist advisor for animals in zoos and circuses at PETA. The animal rights organization is urgently calling on the German federal government to finally pass a ban on wild animals in circuses. Germany is one of the last EU countries without a circus wild animal ban.
«Accidents in circuses like the one in Osnabrück will keep happening as long as animal cruelty in the ring is not brought to an end,» says Würz. «Politicians have a duty to protect people and animals from the irresponsibility of circus staff. The wild animal ban must come, otherwise there will soon be more injured people or even fatalities to mourn. A traveling zoo with elephants, tigers, and other animals trained under duress is a ticking time bomb.»
47 Escapes Documented Since 2009
Just recently, another incident occurred at Circus Krone. In Neuwied, an elephant escaped from its enclosure, ran through the city, and crossed busy streets. Accidents involving and escapes by wild animals such as elephants, tigers, or bears from German circus operations have been extensively documented. In total, between 2009 and 2018 there were at least 47 escapes of bears, elephants, hippopotamuses, big cats, rhinoceroses, and primates from circus operations in Germany. In recent years, several people have been killed and injured as a result. Across the EU, Germany is by far the country with the most incidents involving animals from circuses.
Ban on wild animals long overdue
Hundreds of wild animals are still being transported across Germany on trucks and forced, using whips or so-called elephant hooks, to perform unnatural movements. As many as 27 European countries have completely banned or at least restricted the use of wild animals in circuses. In 2017 alone, Scotland, Italy, Ireland, Romania, Estonia, and Latvia enacted new laws banning wild animals from circuses.
In addition to the German Veterinary Association, the Bundesrat has already spoken out three times in favor of a ban on certain animal species in circuses. According to a representative forsa survey from May 2014, 82 percent of Germans believe that wild animals cannot be kept in a species-appropriate manner in circuses.
The animal rights organization calls for a fundamental ban on animals in circuses, as housing in small enclosures, constant transport, and training characterized by violence and coercion lead to behavioral disorders, illness, and often premature death. More on animal rights and the animal welfare problem.
