Ringling Bros. Lawsuit Advances

Will the elephants walk? Only time will tell. The legal suit against Ringling Bros.’ Circus, which hit the stage nearly nine years ago, has finally made its way to the US District Court. While “The Greatest Show on Earth” continues to claim humane animal treatment, a number of animal-rights groups have forced the company into an unflattering spotlight once again—this time armed with the Endangered Species Act. The plaintiffs’ case relies heavily upon the testimony of Tom Rider, a former Ringling Bros.’ employee with eyewitness accounts of mishandling and maltreatment, included chaining, beating, and slashing. Stay tuned to see if the circus wins the act, or is forced to leave the largest land animal alone.