Ringling Circus Threatens Boycott Of Conn. Over Proposed Ban On Elephant Tool

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ The circus might not come to town anymore. <br/><br/>Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is threatening to bypass P.T. Barnum's home state if Connecticut's legislature

Saturday, May 5th 2007, 1:30 pm

By: News On 6

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ The circus might not come to town anymore.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is threatening to bypass P.T. Barnum's home state if Connecticut's legislature passes a bill prohibiting the use of an elephant-herding tool known as a bullhook.

Animal rights activists say the hooks can injure elephants.

If it is passed and signed into law, Connecticut would be the first state to prohibit the steel tool, circus officials said.

``It is the proven, approved time-tested, safe, humane tool for properly working with elephants,'' said Tom Albert, vice president for government affairs for Feld Entertainment Inc., parent company of Ringling Bros.

The circus will be in Hartford for four days beginning Wednesday and officials invited lawmakers to visit the elephants and decide for themselves.

Circus officials said the economic impact of canceling annual appearances in Hartford and Bridgeport would be about $2.6 million, including $200,000 in state and local taxes and $400,000 in locally purchased supplies.

Animal rights lobbyist Karen Laski said money should not play a role in deciding whether the use of the hooks amounts to animal cruelty.

``It's a violent weapon and should be outlawed,'' Laski, of Manchester, said told the Connecticut Post. ``And for them to say they won't come to Connecticut is like saying 'we won't bring our corporation into the state unless we can beat up our employees.' ``

The legislation is on the House calendar, but is expected to be sent back to committees before being brought up for a final vote.