On June 1, the Fulton County, GA board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to ban the use of elephant management tools (including bullhooks) by circus elephant trainers. The rule only covers unincorporated south Fulton, which the commission has direct governance over.  In its current form, the new ban does not cover the city of Atlanta. However, according to activists quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta will be “their next battleground.” Activists also said they will target Gwinnett and DeKalb counties in Georgia. (See article at http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/fulton-bans-elephant-bullhooks-964106.html.)

Efforts to ban elephant management tools are, in effect, efforts to ban elephants in circuses altogether. The elephant guide is a proven and humane husbandry tool accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates all zoos and circuses, and is approved by the International Elephant Foundation, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Elephant Managers Association.

Circus Fans are encouraged to reach out to family and friends in Georgia to alert them to these efforts and to monitor their local county and city commissioner meeting agendas for mentions of performing animal ordinances. Circus Fans in Gwinnett County, DeKalb County, and Atlanta can also provide their name and contact information to Ray Gronso or Gary Payne, so we can have a list of local residents ready for grassroots campaigns if another ban is proposed. Please contact Ray Gronso, CFA Past President and President of the Arnold Maley-Duggan Bros. Tent 116, at gacircusfan@yahoo.com, Gary Payne, CFA Animal Welfare Committee Chair, at ptgcp@aol.com, or Mary Lou Kelly at Feld Entertainment at mkelly@feldinc.com if you have any questions. Thank you!