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Circus elephant 'Jumbo' to begin new life

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New Zealand’s only African elephant, Jumbo, has spent three decades living in a trailer with the circus

New Zealand’s only African elephant, Jumbo, has spent three decades living in a trailer with the circus

video
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 6:50p.m.
Circuses always used to have an elephant, trained to stand on drums or barrels, staring sadly into space, or standing on each other, with a circus lady triumphant atop them.

This was probably cruel, and the days chained inside a trailer travelling from one location to the next, certainly was.

Elephants like to stretch their legs, African elephants walk up to 80km a day when food is scarce. So gradually, elephants in the travelling circus have been retired, or put out to pasture – but where?

New Zealand’s only African elephant, Jumbo, has spent three decades living in a trailer with the circus. Tomorrow, a new life begins. But has the damage already been done?
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Comments [15]

Dawn Craik
02 Dec 2009 8:33a.m.

so happy for whats in store for jumbo .hope we can follow his progress ... if he could smile it would be a mile long im sure.he has a bright future..fantastic!

rosa
01 Dec 2009 7:08p.m.

jumbo should b let free!!!

Yve
28 Nov 2009 2:42p.m.

She is now in a wonderful place with caring professionals, receiving much needed vet treatment - but please remember it doesn't stop there. I hope all the people who campaigned for her release will now help support her financially in her retirement.

Rakell
28 Nov 2009 11:45a.m.

Why is that criminals are treated with more respect and dignity than animals. It disgusts me how the human race treats animals we should be ASHAMED of ourselves, BUT most importantly it NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

Why are there no regulations set in place for the welfare of animals in circus’s or any other institutes where animals are concerned, and if there is regulations someone is not doing their job properly and needs to be held accountable.

We need to harsher and harder on the people who abuse and mistreat animals because these animals can’t speak for themselves we need to be their voices and protect them. It is our duty and responsibility of mankind to ensure that we treasure and look after the animal species or else it will be too late.

My heart goes out to Jumbo and I will do my bit to ensure that she gets the treatment that she needs and so deserves and I hope that in time she will forgive us in her inhuman treatment by mankind.

Ruth de Reus
28 Nov 2009 10:21a.m.

I too along with my husband & 18 others in Queenstown, Wanaka & Cromwell staged a protest against Jumbo's plight with the Circus. It was worth the abuse & anger thrown at us from some of the public. SAFE and others throughout the country made this wonderful day of celebration possible for Jumbos freedom. But look at the price she has paid.

chris
27 Nov 2009 10:35p.m.

I am totally against ANY animals being paraded around in a zoo. They are abused, beaten, tortured until they are walking zombies. It disgusts me how we humans treat animals
& to bind them to a chain locked up in a confimed space made to perform night after night without proper nourishment
I doubt they are ever taken or seen by a vet, their wounds festering. The lucky ones die at an early age. Others like JUmbo live 30/40/50 years in this hellhole never knowing what freedom is, unloved, uncared for, very few get saved from this existance & when they do its usually too late. They generally die soon afterwards. The experience of discovering the life that they should have lived & the wasted life that they have lived in is probably too much for them. It sickens me when I watch WSPCA & PETA reports on abuse to animals, and the circus people should be made to stand trial for their crimes.

Jordan Wyatt
27 Nov 2009 9:48p.m.

I protested against the elephant with SAFE. Im an Abolitionist vegan, and hate the idea of any use of animals. I'm going to cover Mrs Elephant being released from the circus on my podcast sometime soon http://coexistingwithnonhumananimals.blogspot.com/

Jane
27 Nov 2009 8:24p.m.

Would it be possible for the SPCA to set up a specific "Jumbo" fund, where we can all contribute even ONE DOLLAR A MONTH - (imagine if we all did that!) to keep Jumbo cared for? If enough of us will commit to even $5 per month (and it will only take 600 of us to do that) then Jumbo's needs will be met. Can we do that, animal loving, compassionate people of New Zealand? After all, people have paid more than that as entry fee to the circus over the years to see Jumbo. Let's do it!

Charles Cadwallader
27 Nov 2009 8:13p.m.

To all those that have empathised with Jumbo: I have been privileged to have spent the last six days (getting sunburned...) with this lovely elephant. She is so patient and captivating. If you wish to contribute funds for her upkeep and, medical examinations permitting, send her to her final destination where she can spend times with companion African elephants, please put your donation into an envelope marked 'Jumbo Fund' and send/leave it at your local SPCA. I am really heartened by your sentiments, Jumbo is such a lovely girl and for you guys to appreciate what we are doing helps to make this sort of work so rewarding. For updates please visit our site at www.rnzspca.org.nz (give us a bit of time to catch up!) Many thanks to you all Charles Cadwallader National Chief Inspector

Jane
27 Nov 2009 8:13p.m.

Keeping animals in circuses, even under the smoke-screen excuse that 'humans can learn about them' is like suggesting we study human behaviour by watching people in prison. Not even the worst criminals of this country have suffered 30 years of lack of contact of their specie, nor been constantly tethered. This practise is unacceptable for any thinking nation. Circuses should exhibit wonderful human stunts and death-defying feats - not exhibit animal suffering in solitary confinement with enforced 'games' purely for human amusement. Keep up the pressure against animal abuse, Campbell Live! Well done!

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