March 17, 2004: When the Circus Comes to Town
It was 12:35am when the elephants finally emerged from the Midtown Tunnel, but the crowd still went wild- cheering, yelling, clapping, blasting circus music. Nick and I took a couple of shots at the entrance to the tunnel, then ran around the corner with the rest of the mob, and snapped a few more as the elephants came up 34th Street. Definitely one of those classic New York experiences not to missed! [More pix by Nick, WhatISee, Unrelated News]
Comments
I wonder if the elephants remembered us when we caught them again around the corner.
Did the elephants seem happy? Or just wanted to get to hell out of the cold?
They didn't seem to care about anything as much as hanging on to the tail of the elephant in front of them.
It didn't seem to phase them.
I really feel sorry for the elephants!
What camera settings did you use to get that glowing snow result? =D
Jake, looks like you were standing right up front on the left side of the tunnel exit. I was on the right side and a cop totally blocked me with one of the those police golf cart thing right when the elephents started exiting the tunnel.
The crowds didn't seem to phase elephants, but in one of my shots one of the elephants looked like it was crying, that kinda bummed me out.
Is this a snow at the pics???If my memory serves me well, the elephants are afraid of the cold weather...
Cold weather, tons of people around, loud noise, walking on hard, cold street- all things elephants hate. Not to mention how they are BEATEN into submission. I'm at every circus show when they come to town- I'm there protesting- speaking on behalf of all the animals being abused by Ringling. Animals belong in the wild the way nature intended. They do not exist to entertain humans.
I just had to edit what I wrote because when I clicked to submit my original comments it said my comment was denied because of "questionable content." I guess the truth about circuses really does hurt.
My students are researching elephants, and the things I personally have come across during my searches, is horrific. Go to www.circuses.com and find out the real truth about how elphants are "trained" (joke) and the unspeakable exploitation of these beautiful creatures for "entertainment." Animal rights activist? No, just human with normal compassion and respect for life.
Circuses are cruel...most of the elephants in at that circus were stolen from their familes as babys after their mothers were brutally killed. next they were strapped to the floor and repeatedly beat and beat and beat with chains until they learn to fear people...then they are "trained" through constant hits with bullhooks(a very sharp and painful object) or whatever the trainer gets a hold of. they are chained all day so they can't even move or assosiate with other elephants even though elephants by nature walk 3 miles a day and have strong family ties and love one another. they even morn the death of a loved one by burying the body. Circus elephants are WILD ANIMALS and miss their familys just as we would they are slaves to the entertainment industry and discarded of when they are too sick from lack of care or old to perform anymore. they are scared of the lights and the people but they know they must go on or they will be beat until they do...or deprived of food for a few days. Please see that elephants are like us and deserve to live free of chains or abuse. boycott the circus!
www.circuses.com
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