Bullhooks for Elephants?

Really quick, really late movie review... with some enlightenment

Water For Elephants - not just a gushing, romantic chickflick

I'd been dying to see this movie since I saw the trailer. I FINALLY got to see it after finals with Ryan. We were both under the impression it was a chickflick, but both ended up being surprised by how not-annoyingly-sappy-love-story it really was. Best movie I've seen since The Blind Side. My emotions were all over the place. It had such a great plot that really kept me hooked until the last few minutes of the movie. I'm not a huge Pattinson fan but I gotta hand it to him - he was WONDERFUL (far beyond any other acting I've seen him do). And of course, like always, Witherspoon was perfection - great acting, great costumes, great hair/makeup... But, my favorite character of all was the elephant, Rosie. 

5 star, two-thumbs-up, perfect date movie, hands down!

Ok, second part (the enlightenment) 

For Emilie's birthday (2 weeks ago before I saw the movie) we went to the circus! And I admit (feeling really guilty about it now) I enjoyed it. It was seriously entertaining. Some of the acts were better than the others, but my favorite had to be between the acrobat and the elephants. I mean, how can you not love elephants?

 But it left me wondering - how do they train them (& all their other animals for that matter)? 

According to Ringling Brothers "trainers teach animals routines that showcase their physical abilities and beauty, as well as their distinctive behaviors. Our training methods are based on reinforcement in the form of food rewards and words of praise. Verbal or physical abuse and the withholding of food or water are strictly prohibited." On their website they have lots of pictures of trainers/vets washing, feeding and caring for the animals... but what about behind the scenes, where the training happens? 

I was still unsure how their routines could be "tailored to each animal’s natural abilities and individual preferences which we [Ringling Brothers] observe during their playtime"... I didn't realize that elephants standing on boxes and then standing on each other (or being stood on by another elephant) was a "personal preference"

One of my own pictures from my trip to the circus

So I did some research (with a little inspiration from Pattinson and Witherspoon) and here's what I found:

(contains explicit language, sorry)

(Really disturbing... again, sorry)

Best way to help these elephants (and other circus animals for that matter):

1. STAY AWAY FROM CIRCUSES THAT USE ANIMALS ACTS!

(now I officially feel like a total jerk for going to one...)

2. You can send an email (pre-written already for you by peta) telling the USDA you want restrictions and investigation on Ringling Brothers and other circuses

3. Sign a facebook petition