Elephant walk gives L.A. something to trumpet [Updated]

This wasn't your typical Tuesday morning commute, well,  unless you're used to seeing more than 100,000 pounds of freight take to the streets of L.A. at 4 a.m. in the form of 11 Asian elephants. 

It's the beginning of a several-mile elephant walk from a train stop off of 25th and Alameda to an animal enclosure at Staples Center. The journey is part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, which starts Wednesday evening.

Trainers surrounded the line of elephants, which walked trunk to tail, with each elephant holding onto their leader's tail with its trunk.  Some of the elephants were branded with stars on their backs, which meant they were purchased from a previous owner. Handlers directed the animals by issuing commands in various languages including French, German and Spanish.

The elephants were followed by seven horses and trainers walking briskly to keep up with the animals. About 16 LAPD officers assisted the walk.

Jan Perry, acting mayor and city councilwoman, sat in her car with a  smile on her face as she watched the elephants trek along  Washington Avenue in the wee hours of the morning. She  woke up at 3 a.m. to catch a rare glimpse of the animals.

"I wanted to come down and see how this worked because I've never seen it before," she said.  "I'm impressed at how quiet they are."

The elephant walk and circus have been coming to L.A. streets since 1922, said Andy Perez, a spokesman with the circus.

[Updated 5:20 a.m.: As the animals inched, or rather, trotted, closer and closer to the purple glow of Staples Center, more and more bystanders stood on sidewalks snapping mementos with camera phones. For a moment, Michael Jackson wasn't the main attraction of the day.

Even police officers were taking photos with cameras and phones. The not-so-lucky officers were pedaling alongside the elephants as a means of security and control.

By this time, handlers and the media were sweating from keeping up with the elephants, who walk faster than expected.

Lupe Andrade, of Montebello, was dropping a friend off at Staples Center for a 6 a.m. shift and happened to spot the elephants and horses as they walked by. She said it was a pleasant surprise. "The cop just said don't move," she said.

Regardless, Andrade encountered an unexpected benefit in doing a friend a favor by driving her to work.

"It's awesome," she said. "I thought they were for Michael."]

-- Nicole Santa Cruz in downtown Los Angeles

Photo: Electrician Bob Horton heads to work as  Ringling Bros. and  Barnum & Bailey's elephants walk by on their way to Staples Center.  Credit: Jake Stevens / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[H]

Yes, the Circus starts tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Staples Center.
I guess The Micheal Jackson funeral is the opening act. TV is reporting he will be in "a speciially designed costume".
God help us ! We as a people are all going "nuts".

[Hans Gilgen]

Why don't they leave these animals in Africa where they belong. Stop this torture!!!

[Carol Roberts]

Abolish Slavery: boycott the circus!

[Peg]

I'm hoping to see some pictures posted? I remember when the elephants walked in Pittsburgh. They went from Mellon Arena, where the Hockey team plays, and they were performing, down to the Three Rivers, where they let them go swimming!! So impressive. My dogs run away every chance they get so there's no way I would be walking elephants in a downtown area.

[Wendy]

I'd much rather see elephants than MJ.

[Whatever]

Elephants do not belong in circuses where they are often abused. No animal belongs in a circus. Boycott all circuses that use animals, enjoy other circuses - like Cirque Du Soleil!

[Cat]

Is the LA Times utterly unaware that Ringling Bros. Circus is the subject of a federal lawsuit because of its abusive treatment of the elephants (Asian) who are an endangered species?

Documents released for the trial show that Ringling routinely chains elephants for 26 hours at a time in box cars, and for as long as 100 hours. They are prodded, hooked and struck with bullhooks, a metal-tipped rod similar to a fireplace poker. Documents report elephants dripping blood from bullhook wounds.

Why is this missing from the Times' reporting?

[Ele Ally]

The L.A. Times didn't mention the lawsuit against Ringling Bros. because Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling, has tons of money and power. They don't take kindly to media outlets that pull back the curtain to reveal the abuse that is necessary to making wild animals perform stupid tricks.

Every year more families learn about the abuse inherent in using animals in the circus and stay away. That is the most effective way to protest. Don't give them any of your dollars. When people spend their money and time with human-only circuses and stay away from shows with performing animals, then and only then will Ringling and all the smaller circuses that use animals change their ways.

[bilu]

The star branded on the elephants means they have been purchased from Myanmar, former Burma. The star is the "logo" of the Myanmar Timber Enterprise.

[marlena robles]

ignorant. it's a secret what happens behind Circus curtains. LA Times should know in 2009 a Circus? Wow, how old fashion, it's almost like smoking was cool.

RinglingBeatsAnimals.com

GET THE FACTS LA TIMES