This weekend, Loomis Bros. Circus will be coming to Raleigh—along with endangered elephants and tigers as well as dogs and camels. 

Circuses that use animals for tricks have been documented for their cruel methods of training these animals. For example, elephants are beaten into submission so that they learn tricks. Animals are often kept in tiny cages when not performing, typically so small they cannot move around. These animals are denied their autonomy, natural behaviors, and desires for the sake of entertainment instead of roaming free in the wild. 

On top of this standard cruelty, Loomis Bros. additionally has a history of animal abuse and violating animal welfare laws. Brian Franzen, who controlled Loomis Bros. elephants, was convicted of animal cruelty. In 2018, he was caught on film striking an elephant with a bullhook when the elephant was lying down. These violent practices are hidden from the average circus-goer, hence the need to expose and write about this issue.

Charlotte banned exotic animals from the circus along with the use of whips and bullhooks in 2021. A bullhook is a pole with a metal hook at the end used on an elephant’s sensitive areas to get the elephant to perform. More than 150 cities and eight states in the US have banned the use of animals in the circus typically for reasons of cruelty. Fifty-two countries across the world have similar bans on the use of wild animals in circuses. 

These bans stem from the inherent cruelty of training wild animals to perform tricks. While Loomis Bros. is not alone in these crimes against nature, many circuses have voluntarily stopped the use of wild animals on their own including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The famous Cirque du Soleil never used animals in the first place and remains a large success. While animals in circuses were once a staple form of entertainment, most circuses in the U.S. now do not use animals. 

The future of circuses does not involve animals. It is deplorable that the Horse Hunt Complex at NC State Fairgrounds would even allow such an outdated form of entertainment to continue in the Triangle. We are better than this!

What you can do:

• Boycott this circus
• Share this with friends
•  Contact your local city council members to ban exotic animals and the use of whips and bullhooks in circuses
• Join many others in protesting outside the circus on the days of the circus. 
• Get in touch with questions or to join our protest.