Virginia House Bill 302 has just been referred to the House Agriculture Committee and is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, Wednesday February 10.  The bill text is attached for your reference.  If passed, this legislation would ban the use of the elephant guide (also called a bull hook/ankus) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It would apply not only to circuses but zoos and all other elephant exhibitors and facilities in Virginia.  As you know, this widely accepted and humane elephant management tool is absolutely necessary to safely display elephants in a public setting, whether it be in a circus, at a fair or in any other setting.

The contact information for the seven Virginia delegates on the Agriculture Committee is listed below.  Please take a moment to call or email Committee members before tomorrow’s hearing to state your opposition to this proposed state legislation.  Thank you!