Ringling Bros. and Barnam & Bailey Circus, a division of Feld Entertainment

In an unannounced inspection of Ringling Bros.' Florida breeding facility in January 1999, federal inspectors were shocked to find baby elephants with 'large visible lesions' on their legs. The federal inspectors learned from Ringling Bros. employees that this was the result of the 'routine separation process' that is used to take nursing babies away from their mothers so they can perform in the circus. With the use of ropes and chains around the baby elephant's necks and legs, an official report from federal inspectors stated, 'Ringling Bros. routinely handles its baby elephants this way.'"
In a letter to Feld Entertainment, owner of Ringling Bros., U.S. Department of Agriculture officials stated this practice causes "unnecessary trauma, behavioral stress, and physical harm' to the elephants."