City of Los Angeles Shuts Down Elephant Circus Show

Act with history of animal welfare violations forced to leave LA

Los Angeles, Calif.—A controversial circus elephant act under federal investigation was shut down yesterday by Los Angeles Animal Services, the international animal advocacy organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) announced today. The elephant act, appearing in Panorama City with Circus Vazquez, was forced out of Los Angeles after the city learned of the act’s record of Animal Welfare Act violations and documented elephant abuse, which violated city permit requirements.

The elephants, Tina, Jewel and Queenie, have a long history of abuse and neglect, all documented in official records. Both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are actively investigating the elephants’ owner, Will Davenport, for violations of federal law.

“We commend L.A. Animal Services for taking action to prevent these abused elephants from being exploited in our city,” said Catherine Doyle, IDA’s Los Angeles-based campaign director. “If only federal authorities would act as swiftly and decisively as the city has.”

According to IDA, problems surrounding the elephants include:

  • History of physical abuse, neglect, inadequate veterinary care, inhumane handling and Animal Welfare Act violations for all three elephants. The USDA is actively investigating the matter.
  • Abuse documented by USDA including multiple wounds consistent with ankus abuse, eyewitness reports of beatings, and the “inappropriate and abusive use of the ankus and such use is likely to cause trauma, behavioral stress, physical harm or unnecessary discomfort...”
  • Violation of the Endangered Species Act committed in the purchase of Tina and Jewel, highly endangered Asian elephants, by the Davenports from the Cole Brothers Circus. The USFWS is actively investigating.
  • “Tina, Jewel and Queenie have suffered long enough,” Doyle concluded. “It’s time for federal agencies to confiscate these long-suffering elephants and send them to the natural habitat sanctuary that stands ready to transport and house them immediately.”

For information on how to help Tina, Jewel and Queenie, see www.helpelephants.com.