Circus handlers beat elephants

World-famous Ringling Bros Circus is again being accused of animal abuse but this time there is video proof of it.

Elephant handlers were filmed herding the animals together and randomly whipping them with bull hooks (a long pole with a metal point at the end) across the head, legs and body as they were led from holding pens to the stage. Loud cracking noises can be heard.

In one scene, a handler curse an elephant before using his whip to strike its trunk repeatedly.

The circus that bills itself as "The Greatest Show on Earth" refused to comment, saying they were unaware of the video. They maintained their animals are treated properly.

The history

This is not the first time the circus has been accused of animal abuse.

In 2003, a former employee of Ringling Bros accused the circus of harming, harassing and wounding elephants. The case has not been resolved.
In 1998, the circus agreed to donate $20K to elephant-care groups to settle a case involving the death of a 3-year-old elephant in its Jacksonville, Fl. circus.
The show has been sited for 24 documented violations in the past three years.