Update: This bill did not complete the legislative process prior to adjournment.
Bill Description: If passed, this bill would require that circuses and other traveling exhibitions with elephants file an advance itinerary, meet basic transport requirements, and allow inspections of the animals. In addition, the bill would make it unlawful to use an electric prod, bullhook, ankus, or similar device to abuse an elephant.
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This bill will help to restrict practices that should have disappeared a long time ago. The bullhook is the most common device used to train, punish, and control elephants. Both ends of the bullhook are used to inflict damage. The hook is used to apply varying degrees of pressure to sensitive spots on an elephant’s body. The handle end can be used as a club. Forceful use of the bullhook in training sessions is common practice in order to render elephants submissive and to train elephants to perform tricks. The bullhook is used as an intimidation device once elephant trainers are in view of the public. Elephants obey the bullhook as a “guide” because they recognize it as a source of pain. Numerous facilities, such as zoos and sanctuaries, are presently taking care of elephants without the use of the bullhook. It is time that the circus industry updates its practices to be more humane.