Topsy Elephant Abuse Case Study

In 2011 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus agreed to pay a $270,000 fine after facing charges from the USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture. The corporation did not admit wrongdoing after settling says Reuters who wrote the report for the New York Times on this case (1). The corporation is justifying their decision to pay as purely business with their show adapting to what people want and are interested in seeing. The mistreatment that elephants face in the show is often severe, but notice has been taken.
There are several cases of abuse that have been reported and some date back as far as a century ago. Topsy, an elephant owned by P.T. Barnum in 1903. A reporter Michael Daley wrote about Topsey’s experience on the dreadful day in Topsy Elephant Slain by Thomas Edison. In 1903 Topsy was electrocuted at Luna Park on Coney Island by Thomas Edison who wanted to be the first to have death by electrocution on film. Topsey killed her trainer resulting in a death sentence. Her caretakers repeatedly tossed lit cigarettes at her along with regular beatings. She was smuggled into the country as a baby by Barnum and Bailey Circus in an effort to out do their rival, Adam Forepaugh, and was a part of the circus her entire life. She was gentle to …show more content…
In the video the elephant can been seen being struck by a pitchfork, kicked, and hit. This abuse was unnecessary as the animal stood calmly taking the abuse. The owner of the elephant was brought to court, and was found guilty on charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a performing elephant. In a BBC article, Anne the Elephant Circus Abuse: Bobby Roberts Guilt, it is discussed how the sentence Roberts received was light with no fine or prison time for the owner. The abuse is allowed to continue as it has for more than a century when there are little