Title: House Bill 1531 Seeks to Protect Elephants From Abuse, Ban Bullhooks in Virginia
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Richmond, Va. – Del. Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) has introduced House Bill 1531, which aims to prohibit the use of bullhooks, cruel weapons employed to abuse elephants, in Virginia. Bullhooks are heavy, fireplace poker-like tools with sharp metal hooks on one end that are used to break, beat, and terrorize elephants.
The bill, if passed, would ban the use of bullhooks on elephants due to their inherent cruelty. Tran is driven by the plight of abused elephants like Asha, who are forced to perform under the constant threat of violence.
Tran states, My bill bans the use of inhumane weapons, like bullhooks, on elephants. Elephants are intelligent, complex animals and should not be made to suffer from loneliness, pain, and fear.
While the use of bullhooks is already illegal in Richmond, where the city council enacted a ban in 2015, and prohibited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, traveling exhibitors and roadside zoos in other parts of Virginia continue to employ these brutal tools. Notably, the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County, which recently saw authorities execute a search and seizure warrant resulting in the removal of nearly 100 animals, is known for using bullhooks to force elephants to give rides and perform circus-style tricks.
Handlers at these facilities strike the animals or jab the sharp metal hooks into the tender, soft tissue behind elephants’ ears, inside their ears or mouths, on the back of their sensitive ankles, and in and around their anuses.
Sam Haddock, a former elephant trainer turned whistleblower, explains, The bullhook is designed for one purpose, and one purpose only, to inflict pain and punishment. I should know, I used to make them. I built them to where you can’t break them, no matter how hard you hit the elephant.
In a shocking PETA exposé, a circus employee can be seen viciously attacking elephants with a bullhook, instructing trainers to sink and twist it into the animals’ flesh until they screamed in pain. Elephants, known for their impressive long-term memory, quickly learn to fear the bullhook and desperately try to anticipate commands to avoid its use.
Asha, the last solitary African elephant in North America used for rides at the infamous Natural Bridge Zoo, has spent years subjected to this cruelty. Her handler carries a bullhook as a constant reminder of the pain that will be inflicted if she refuses to comply. Visitors to the zoo have witnessed Asha swaying and bobbing her head, clear signs of loneliness, boredom, and stress.
Recently, Rockbridge General District Court Judge Gregory Mooney ruled that prosecutors had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that most of the animals seized from the roadside zoo had suffered from cruelty and/or inadequate care.
PETA, an organization advocating for animal rights, commends Delegate Tran for her efforts to protect elephants and create a more compassionate environment in Virginia. PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch emphasizes, Trainers use bullhooks to hurt, bully, torment, and terrorize elephants into performing tricks that make no sense to them and to force them to carry heavy loads of people on their backs.
PETA’s motto, animals are not ours to use for entertainment, reinforces the belief that every animal deserves respect and care. The organization offers free Empathy Kits to those seeking to learn about kindness towards animals.
For additional information, please visit PETA.org or follow the organization on [social media platforms].
In conclusion, House Bill 1531’s introduction represents a significant step towards safeguarding the welfare of elephants in Virginia by prohibiting the use of bullhooks, ending the cruel practices inflicted upon these sentient animals.
