14-R336

2014 -- H 8310

Enacted 06/11/14

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING CIRCUSES AND OTHER TRAVELING SHOWS TO

ELIMINATE THE USE OF BULLHOOKS AND SIMILAR DEVICES FOR TRAINING

ELEPHANTS

Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Ackerman, Gallison, Nunes, and McLaughlin

Date Introduced: June 11, 2014

     WHEREAS, Elephants are highly intelligent and family-oriented animals that have

memories that span many years. At birth they weigh between 200-250 pounds and by maturity,

they will consume between 300 to 400 pounds of food per day; and

     WHEREAS, Thousands of Asian and African elephants are used to entertain in circuses

and other traveling shows across the country; and

     WHEREAS, Even when born in captivity, elephants are wild animals, and they must be

trained to perform in circus acts or shows; and

     WHEREAS, The tradition of training elephants goes back some 4,000 years, with a

variety of methods used over the decades; and

     WHEREAS, Methods such as positive encouragement and using snacks as rewards has

been effective and successful for many trainers, however, some elephant training includes

utilizing bullhooks to force the elephants to perform; and

     WHEREAS, A bullhook, also called an ankus, guide, elephant goad, or elephant hook, is

a steel rod with a metal hook and tip, and has a handle that is typically two to three feet long

made of plastic or wood; and

     WHEREAS, The bullhook is designed for the purpose of punishing elephants with the

hook being used to apply varying degrees of pressure on an elephant's body, causing the elephant

to move away from the source of discomfort; and

     WHEREAS, Alternative methods of elephant management, called Protected Contact,

which rely only on positive reinforcement training and not the use of a bullhook to manage

elephants also allows for the safe handling and management of elephants; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island Providence

Plantations hereby expresses concern regarding the treatment of captive elephants in circuses and

traveling shows due to the use of the bullhook and harmful training practices; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby recognizes that the use of the bullhook causes pain

to elephants and urges circuses and other traveling shows to eliminate the use of bullhooks and

other harmful training practices on elephants; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA).

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LC005836

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