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Elephants are intelligent and social animals. In the wild, female elephants stay with their mothers and with their family group for their entire lives. Sadly, there are several female elephants in Florida who are forced to live alone, traveling the state and the country performing at flea markets and other small venues, and with disreputable circuses. These elephants are denied the opportunity to socialize or build relationships with other elephants. Nosey, Judy and Florida's other solitary elephants deserve retirement to a sanctuary where they will find freedom from constant travel and an opportunity for normal social relationships. |
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Nosey Nosey is used for elephant rides, despite a history of dangerous behavior. In 2004, the elephant knocked a worker down during an appearance in Iowa. The worker suffered a head injury that required stitches. In March 2009, one of the circus' monkeys escaped from his cage before a circus performance at a flea market in Fruitland Park (the monkeys are dressed-up like cowboys and strapped-onto a horse during the show). Reggie, a spider monkey, enjoyed his freedom in the wilds of Lake County for one month before being recaptured. The elephant and monkeys travel together in a filthy, rust-covered trailer.
In April 2009 the USDA conducted an inspection of the Liebling Bros. Circus during a performance at an outlet mall in Orlando. In his report, the inspector wrote about the tight chains around Nosey's ankles, "This elephant could not make any movements forward or backward, and is only restricted to movements only a few feet from side to side." (photo: Nosey's filthy travel trailer, January 2009) In October 2005, the Liebling Bros. Circus entered into a Settlement Agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was assessed a civil penalty of $2,885 for multiple violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, including failure to establish and maintain programs of veterinary care, housing monkeys in a truck with insufficient light and poor sanitation, and in cages that did not allow "for normal postural movements." During 2010, Nosey is traveling with the Piccadilly Circus. You Can Help. • July 30-31, 2010
• August 1-2
• August 3-4
• August 5-6
• August 7-8
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Judy |
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R.I.P. Dondi Dondi was born in 1974 in Thailand and shortly after brought to the United States to perform. |
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The Liebling Brothers Circus is a small circus that travels with one female African elephant named Nosey (sometimes called “Tiny” or "Peanut"), a few horses and two monkeys. (photo: Nosey in chains, April 2009)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has repeatedly cited the Liebling Bros. Circus for deficiencies regarding its animals. For example, in June 2009 a USDA inspector visited the circus during a stop in South Carolina and found that Nosey was tethered by two short chains that “severely limited” the elephant’s movement; for over 10 hours Nosey was unable to stand normally. The inspector also noted the elephant’s “extremely poor skin” (Nosey's cracked and thickened skin has been a recurring problem for the circus). During the inspection, the circus was also cited for leaving a monkey unattended and tethered on a pony's back for an hour.
1431 N. Federal Highway • Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 • (954) 727-ARFF