No Elephant Abuse: PA Lawmaker Wants To Curb Animal Performances

HARRISBURG, PA — The mental image is stark: A young and frightened elephant has its skin torn by a metal hook while it is being trained to perform.

That image was referenced by state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, a Chester County Democrat, who is proposing legislation that would ban the transport of many animals in the state for public performances.

"Increasingly, caring Pennsylvanians have become aware of the inhumane treatment, confinement, and transport of animals in traveling circuses," Shusterman said in a recent memo.

"While the larger acts have largely and voluntarily closed down due to lack of demand and competition from cruelty-free entertainment such as Cirque De Soleil, small operations with even less oversight still haul neglected animals from state to state."

The bill Shusterman plans to introduce would prohibit transporting elephants, big cats, bears, primates, kangaroos, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, zebras, tapirs, seals, sea lions, and sharks for public
performances.

The legislation would not bar zoos from exhibiting animals or prevent nonprofits, educators, or wildlife rehabilitators from traveling for educational programs featuring birds, lizards or other exempt species.