What a week! The news was dominated by the collapse, while loading, of Asian elephant Sarah [Ringling Red]. Also news that, at long last, charges have been filed by the USDA against John Pugh and his Cole Brothers Circus, for violations of the AWA regarding the care of Tina and Jewel.

CIRCUS:
Sarah, ailing, but still forced to perform, collapsed while being loaded onto a train in Anaheim CA. ADI has filed a formal complaint with the USDA, and AR protests gain momentum.
The USDA has formally charged Cole Bros and John Pugh over violations of the Animal Welfare Act in their treatment of Asian elephants Tina and Jewel.
Kelly Miller Circus ferried elephants Becky, Lisa and Traci to Kelley’s Island OH, and Lisa was harnessed to help raise the main tent.
Franzen elephants are giving rides and performances at Skowhegan State Fair, ME from August 11-20. Elephant trainer Justin Loomis says, "We have the only elephant in the world that can walk on a ball. She weighs nearly 9-thousand pounds and she walks on a fiberglass ball.”
Circus Pages will be at the Eastern Michigan Fair August 9-13, at which Daisy and Bambi will be coerced to perform.
Details of the USDA citation against Carson & Barnes came to light this week: excessive force was used on Viola (bullhook), and there were many instances of lack of control of the elephants while rides were being given.

In Canada, there were weekend-long demos against Shrine Circus in Ottawa. Shrine was in Brockville with Asian elephants Marie (48) and Schell (36).


ZOO:
At Fresno Chaffee CA, elephants Kara and Shaunzi have completed 2 years on a diet – Kara lost 2,000 pounds and Shaunzi lost 1900 pounds. The diet included a move away from sugars and carbohydrates, as well as making the elephants work harder for their food.
Indianapolis Zoo unveiled African elephant Kubwa’s calf’s name as Kalina (flower, love or beautiful).
A video has been released promoting the NASCAR event at the Atlanta GA Motor Speedway, and it shows Atlanta Zoo elephant Kelly “painting”.
Officials at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium say they're still waiting for South African officials to ship elephant semen to the US so that the zoo can establish North America's first elephant sperm bank.

African elephant bull Thabo Umasai (5) has left Dresden Zoo Germany for Pittsburgh Zoo. He is the first AI-conceived calf in Germany, and had attacked keepers at the zoo in March 2010.
It has been reported from Munich Hellabrunn Zoo that Asian female Penang (22) is pregnant with her 4th calf.
A male calf, now named Shwe myArr (Golden Arrow), was born to Mingalar Oo and Radza at Emmen Zoo, Netherlands.
The work goes on to release calves Paloh and Jeli from the appalling confines of Johor Zoo, Malaysia. Bull Aidil (22), captive at the next-door facility, has now been included in the campaign.


WORLD:
At Mysore, India, the Dasara elephant marches started on August 8. This year there are 14 elephants - including for the first time a mother and her calf, Mary (54) and Ganga (14) - rather than the usual 12.
Also in India, rescued orphan calves Sikom, Tinku and Tikla appear to have joined wild herds in Manas NP, leaving Soni on her own in the release area.
The rest of the week’s main news on the world forum came from Sri Lanka:
* The Department of Wildlife Conservation announced that small patches of forest alongside rail lines are to be cleared in an attempt to prevent elephant deaths.
* It has been reported that, over the last 5 months, 5 elephants (2 females, 3 bulls - 2 of whom are calves) from the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage have been given away secretly to “ruling party politicians and their stooges” for use in pageants. One of the bulls, Atlas, originated from the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home.
* Calf elephants suitable for carrying caskets in peraheras (festivals) will be chosen during the elephant census (August 11-13), and will be “tamed and handed over to the temples” where the peraheras are held. However, reports came in that a 7 month old elephant calf has died at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage after her mother, Lasanda, had been given to Vishnu Temple on the orders of the Sri Lanka president.
* At the end of the census/survey, “prompt action will be taken to conserve and provide security for tuskers' in the country since tuskers are endangered and believed to be as low as four to five percent”, and that a special discussion is on with the Railways Department to prevent elephant deaths caused by train accidents. However, wildlife groups boycotted the census since they believed it would bring more wild elephants into captivity – it is suggested that 300 calves with tusks will be captured for “domestication”.

In Namibia, SW Africa, an elephant who has been "declared a problem animal", is due to be killed in an attempt to scare away others who have ventured outside Etosha NP.


GENERAL:
In the US, African female elephant Susie was paraded on the NBC TV show “It’s Worth What?”, and “valued” at $250k, and was made to perform under the threat of the bullhook.
At DSWT Kenya, orphans Chemi Chemi, Kalama and Ololoo arrived safely at Ithumba in northern Tsavo. And at the end of the week, a one year old bull was rescued from the area of the Galana River in Tsavo East NP, and flown to Nairobi.



PAUSES FOR THOUGHT:
“The use of animals as circus performers is an outdated and inhumane concept.” - Ken White, President, Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, in “Help Stop Circus Cruelty” on SFGate on 5 August 2011.

“French said, as a fourth-generation elephant handler, he’d never mistreat his charges and that the elephants are like family. Rossell said, “If that’s family, then they’re an abusive family.” - Matt Rossell, ADI Campaigns Director, re Ringling.