This Elephant Broke Out of a French Circus and We Can’t Stop Cheering Her On!

Studies prove what common sense tells us: elephants are emotional, intellectual, social beings. Researchers have found that like humans, elephants grieve the loss of their loved ones. When passing the spot their loved one died, many elephants will stop and stand silently for several minutes. They have been seen cradling and caressing the remains of deceased elephants. Others have observed the power of maternal love in elephants.

Despite knowing this, we use and abuse them, making them perform for us in circuses. Circus elephants are typically trained to perform using painful bullhooks and other harmful methods like starvation. In captivity, they’re prone to develop potentially fatal foot conditions from standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time and the majority suffer from zoochosis as a result of the mental stress of being deprived of their natural habitats.

So when we learned about one elephant who simply had enough of performing silly tricks for human entertainment and escaped a circus in France, we couldn’t help but cheer her on.

The beautiful 42-year-old gentle giant escaped from the La piste aux Etoiles circus on the outskirts of the Puy-de-Dôme, France and surprised drivers when she crossed the road. Sadly, she was recaptured just a few minutes after her daring escape. We can’t blame her for trying. 

Local French newspaper La Montagne reported that a circus employee said vandals with “with ill intentions” (read: with compassion) had loosened the rope fencing keeping the elephant inside her enclosure. Later, another circus spokesperson told news agency AFP that the elephant had been out for an “organized walk” with her handler and did not cross the road, saying that the stories of the elephant escaping were just people trying to harm the name of the circus. Seems like the circus needs to get their story straight, given that there are clearly photos of the elephant stopping traffic to cross the road.

One thing is certain: circuses are no place for elephants. With the recent news of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus officially announcing that they will be closing up the big top and ending performances in May of 2017, animals being abused in circuses will soon be a thing of the past. Activists and animals lovers alike fought against Ringling Bros. cruelty for years and their hard work paid off, for what we can hope will set off a domino effect in the industry, leading to many more victories for captive animals.

To help the plight of animals mistreated by the circus, you can start by boycotting circuses or other establishments that can’t provide adequate care to exotic or endangered animals. Even better, you can help spread the word by sharing this article. If you want to experience wild animals in a truly beautiful way, try one of these volunteer conservation trips.

Image source: La Montagne/Twitter