Elephants march through downtown L.A. [Updated]

It may have caught some weary-eyed commuters off guard Tuesday morning to see the streets of downtown Los Angeles turned over to a predawn parade of pachyderms.

Seven Asian elephants linked tail-to-trunk in an orderly line lumbered along a 3-mile route from a train at 25th and Alameda streets to Staples Center. [For the record: This post previously stated incorrectly that the elephants marched from Union Station.]

The annual elephant walk was meant to drum up publicity for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. This year's show, "Barnum’s FUNundrum!" will run at Staples Center from Wednesday through July 18.

-- Tony Barboza

Photo: Six elephants from the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus complete a predawn walk from Union Station to Staples Center. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Robyn Lamoreux]

Does anyone really believe that given the choice the elephants would rather be parading through downtown Los Angeles as opposed to drinking at a watering hole with it's family members in Africa or India?
Asphalt or earth?
Clowns or baboons?
Chained or free?
I think the choices are clear. Please do not support animal cruelty. Encourage Ringling Bros. to put their elephants into sanctuaries.

[Bike LA]

I prefer the giant robot elephant that was walking through London.

[rickmanfan]

It's flabbergasting that imprisoned animals are still cruelly forced to perform for profit.

This may change the minds of those who think elephants should be (ab)used for "entertainment".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_intelligence

[whoopsiedaisy]

Letting elephants walk around is abusive? Really?

What do you believe would happen to these wonderful - but now long-since domesticated - elephants if they were just suddenly released out into the world? They are very well cared for by the Barnum-Baily folks.

[Joel Johnson]

Shame, shame, shame.

[michelle]

I urge everyone to look at online websites that show the abuse these poor elephants and other animals suffer at the hands of their trainers at Barnum and Bailey and other Circuses. This show should be banned and run out of town.

[SLS]

Boycott Ringling Bros.! Animal welfare organizations have documented footage of elephants and their babies being abused with chains, metal rods, shocking them with tazers, keeping them chained and away from their mothers and natural habitats. It's sick and must be stopped. Join the protest in front of the staples center tomorrow evening before the show. Stop the abuse!

[Karen]

Real natural setting. Ringling needs to end! Down with animal cruelty!!

[bre]

I am so happy to see all of the comments here, this re-news my faith in humanity. Thank to all of you showing your disgust for this industry. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey posses an archaic show for the nineteenth century. We should have moved past this by now.

[Mona]

Everyone should boycott these animal abusers.

[Verballistic]

To refer to circuses as "animal torture" is typical of the disingenuous "animal rights" movement. PETA is the worst of the hypocrites...when the genuinely abused fighting dogs were rescued from Michael Vick's dog-fighting ring, the flakes at PETA DEMANDED that all the dogs be euthanized.

More rational minds prevailed & out of 4 dozen or so injured dogs, over 80% of them were restored to full health. PETA would rather win the PR battle by having the dogs euthanized instead of restored to good health, because their AGENDA is far more important to them than the actual ANIMALS involved!!

[Madi]

Does anyone know if they are coming back the same way? When will they walk back, if so?

[lolercats]

Well if these poor animals weren't being "pimped" like this, they would be back in their ever shrinking natural habitat. Ya their watering holes in india and africa holes that will one day be surrounded by humans. If they aren't already...

It's like if everyone went vegan ... where would all the non-milk producing cows go to then ? They sure wouldn't let them run free ...

[Katie Maneeley]

The elephants subjected to perform in the Ringling circus breaks my heart. Having them parade through city streets and perform un-natural tricks night after night - I can't imagine what those elephants are thinking. They are probably thinking - when will this torture end?? I ask the LA Times to cover the abuse that has been proven that these elephants and other exotic animals endure when subjected to circus life.

[Josh A]

There is nothing cute about this...how sad.

[K.E.]

OK I get the animal thing. But I really want to take my mom to the circus. We haven't been since I was a kid.

I will then donate to an animal retirement/rescue farm.

[Cecelia Rios]

FAUGH ON ALL CIRCUSES; THEY PIMP POOR ANIMALS LIKE PROSTITUTES FOR PEOPLE'S FLEETING ENTERTAINMENT. BOYCOTT THEM ALL AND TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THEIR REAL MEANING!

[Laura]

I can't believe there are still enough heartless, ignorant people who pay to perpetuate animal abuse. When does it end? Did the tragedy at Sea World teach us nothing? Please boycott the circus and any venue that uses animals for entertainment. Enough already.

[shannon]

Disgusting and Shameful!!!!! Everyone should boycott the circus! ANIMAL ABUSERS!!!!

[Jerry Gentry]

Just another very sad day for Los Angeles and the Circus animals. There is so much documented evidence that the Ringling Brothers Circus abuses their animals and yet organizations such as yours continues to show support for them; glossing over the facts. You should be looking more closely to what is happening to these Elephants. Yes, they have the Center for Elephant Conservation which is a great public relations scam. Los Angeles should follow the lead of a "First World" country like Bolivia who has banned the use of animals in their circuses. We all know it's about the money and money talks; especially in Los Angeles! God Bless you Bolivia; I hope one day the United States of America will become enlightened!

[MTHS]

Circuses make me sick. Nothing but cruelty to animals. The ridiculous name of the show makes this even more gross.

[Oscar Lem Hartsell]

Very coincidental - Last night on The Animal Planet there was a two hour show on Elephants. The commentator pointed out how much they are like us. In many areas I agree, but I have never seen Elephants or any other creatures on earth demonstrate such vicious cruelty towards any other species. I am reminded of one scene in "The Planet of the Apes" in which the caged humans were of special interest to the local population! The only cages humans are prisoners so I guess all of these caged animals are "prisoners"! Right?

Ringling Brothers, the Cruelest Show on Earth! Just going to the circus shows your support for this barbaric form of entertainment!

[lynardskynardchic]

Maybe its me, but I don't see the shackles on the feet of those elephants in the picture that another comment alluded to.
The animals look healthy and not abused.
I'm going to the circus. I'll wave as I pass you on the protest line.

[Skat]

If only these poor, suffering, creatures could speak (and if only we as humans would listen)! If you and your family attend ANY circus, whether it be RBBB/Circus Vargas or whatever show rolls into town, then YOU support animal abuse!

[Mark]

Appalling. Boycott the circus.