Sad life continues for former Swap Shop elephants
October 26th, 2007 by admin
In August 2005, animal advocates in south Florida celebrated when the Hanneford Family Circus was evicted from Fort Lauderdale’s Swap Shop flea market after 15 years of daily performances. The campaign against the Swap Shop circus was one of ARFF’s longest. It was a victory when the Swap Shop finally ended their financial support of the circus; unfortunately, life for its animals did not improve. The Hanneford Family Circus’ three elephants- “Carol,” “Liz” and “Patty” — are now traveling with the Cole Bros. Circus.
An article in yesterday’s Independent Florida Alligator newspaper described a performance of the circus in Gainesville (the article also mentioned a demonstration against the circus by local animal rights activists!). Sadly, not much has changed. The elephants are still guided through their depressing act by George Hanneford lll (see photo). Even the tune that the three elephants perform to (”Wipe Out”) is the same as during their time at the Swap Shop.
As with the majority of elephants used in circuses, Carol, Liz and Patty were taken from the wild when they were babies. George Hanneford’s parents obtained the elephants in Bangkok, Thailand in the early 1970s, before Asian elephants were declared an Endangered Species. At the time, it was not uncommon for poachers to bring elephant calves to the city for sale to unscrupulus circuses. Only a few months old, the three elephants were shipped to the United States where they were trained to perform unnatural and degrading tricks.
You Can Help
Please join ARFF as we speak up for Carol, Liz, Patty and the other animals in the circus. ARFF will protest the Cole Bros. Circus this weekend in Ocoee, and next week in Crystal River and Boca Raton. Click here for demonstration times and locations.