Things Haven't Changed Much
Since Topsy's Execution

Contest News

On a dreary January morning in 1903, a crowd estimated at some 1,500 gathered in the off-season quiet of Coney Island to witness what The New York Times termed "a rather inglorious affair."

Topsy, a six-ton, 10-foot-tall female Indian elephant in a circus, had recently developed a bad temper, killing three circus workers in as many years. Each had in one way or another abused her. After a failed attempt to publicly poison Topsy by feeding her cyanide-laced carrots, and flawed plans to have her hanged, officials decided instead Topsy would be publicly electrocuted by Thomas Edison as a publicity stunt.

At 2:45pm that sad January day, the crowd of 1,500 gasped as the current was activated. For 10 seconds 6,600 volts coursed through Topsy's body as she convulsed, her body spewing smoke, and fell to the ground dead. One man preserved part of Topsy's hide for an office chair. Thomas Edison, her executioner, showed his film of the event, Electrocuting an Elephant (Warning: Graphic content), to audiences throughout the United States.

Now, more than 100 years later, circuses are still mistreating elephants and audiences are still gathering to watch. Despite all of the knowledge we have gained in the last century, people still allow these incredible, endangered animals to be exploited and abused for nothing more than a few minutes of entertainment and a few bucks of profit. Apparently, in more than a century, we haven't learned much.

The video for the new single "Persist" by All India Radio (with haunting animation by Lucy Dyson) brings to life Topsy's sad story, and in so doing also brings to light the fact that things haven't changed much for elephants in the circus. Though the circus industry may no longer electrocute those who rampage during a public viewing, they still shock them with electric prods to "train" them. Though the industry may no longer beat them with pitchforks, they do beat them with bullhooks and other similar devices. The industry restrains them by chaining them and carts them in train cars across the country for the majority of their lives.

Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute wants to put it all to a stop, and on October 23, 2008, our trial against Ringling Bros. circus for its abuse of Endangered Asian elephants gets underway.

Please donate to the Elephant Defense Fund and help us stop the abuse of elephants for entertainment.

The Contest Is Over

We came up with a contest for a haiku about the use of elephants in the circus. This contest ended on September 30, 2008. We at Born Free USA united with API, along with the members of All India Radio, selected the three lucky winners, who each get a copy of the Fall CD.

We've also selected 10 "honorable mentions." See the winning entries here, as well as on our other pages such as our Ban Bullhooks MySpace page and Born Free USA's Facebook page.

And thanks to all who entered!

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