Mission: Urge Carson & Barnes Circus to Stop Using Animals!

Going to the circus should NOT be an elderly elephant exploitation event. Elephants and other animals need your help!

Carson & Barnes Circus has been cited for nearly 150 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act—including for failing to provide animals with proper veterinary care, enough space, and clean water. Almost all of the elephants exploited by Carson & Barnes were captured from the wild as babies and shipped to the U.S., where they’ve spent 50+ years in chains and performing under the threat of sharp weapons called bullhooks. A vid of veteran trainer Tim Frisco shows him hitting elephants with a bullhook and shocking them with an electric prod.

Every elephant used in circuses is elderly, and most seem to suffer from movement issues, likely caused by a lifetime of confinement and forced performances.

The abuse doesn’t stop there. When not performing uncomfortable circus tricks,  the elephants are confined at an elephant training compound and roadside zoo in Oklahoma called the “Endangered Ark Foundation.”

In March 2026, an elephant expert visited the facility. There, he saw a trainer using a bullhook on an elderly elephant named Traci, who was trying to stand up to go to the bathroom during a public encounter. Even with the crowd watching, the trainer made her stay down for the bathing encounters, even if it meant lying in her own poop.

earn peta2 points

Please politely urge Carson & Barnes Circus to end its cruel animal acts and send the elephants to reputable sanctuaries. Here’s how to earn points in our Rewards Program for completing this mission:

1. Send polite comments to [email protected]. You’re welcome to use our sample letter below, but putting your message in your own words will be more effective

I was disturbed to learn that Carson & Barnes Circus continues to send elephants like Viola on the road for circus performances and uses other elephants in dangerous public encounters at the Endangered Ark Foundation.

Modern audiences are turning away from circuses with animals, and numerous cities and states across the country are enacting bans on wild-animal acts. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shut down after 146 years of animal abuse and has since returned successfully without animals, joining the many modern, humane circuses that are dazzling audiences with only willing human performers.

Please recognize the shift in public sentiment by eliminating your animal acts, discontinuing dangerous public-contact encounters, and sending the animals to reputable sanctuaries where they can live in peace.

Sincerely,

2. Take a screenshot of your e-mail and submit it for 150 peta2 points. (Heads-up: You’ll only get points once for completing this mission.)

Note: Submissions are manually reviewed by our team. Please allow up to 48 hours for your mission to be approved and points to be awarded. Thanks for your patience!

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