Friday, August 31, 2012

Tusko #8



10 comments:

Wade G. Burck said...

Buckles,
Am I right in assuming that the bail ring was added to this set up to keep the hobble ring's on his shorter tusks? Imagine walking into the stable in the morning and finding the whole setup on the floor, and having to get it back on. Geez.................

Wade Burck

Buckles said...

To prevent him from striking out.

Jimmy Cole said...

With all due respect to the great circus historians out there...and I realize these photos are 80+ years ago, I question if it is wise to put photos like this on the internet given the current dilema that today's circus is going through to keep performing animals. I would imagine the AR people could find a good use for photos such as this.

Cindy Potter said...

True that, Jim...but on the positive side it also serves to remind us of "what once was" and how advanced the care and consideration of these awesome animals has advanced!
:-)
Cindy Potter

Jimmy Cole said...

Yes Cindy you are right, and most of us understand that. But the AR people are masters at media manipulation and would use such photos against us...and the public buys a lot of their propeganda.

Wade G. Burck said...

Jim,
Which are easy enough to prove ancient. Zoo's post their old animal and exhibit photo's with pride and proof of their advancement. Everything has a history. You can't run or hid from it. It was the thinking of the time. These old photo's in the context of history and learning are just fine.
No, it is some of the nitwit comments on facebook and other public forums by supposed "experts" and "friends of the circus" that are doing irreparable damage. The time to act like you had an ounce of intelligence was years ago.

Wade Burck

Jimmy Cole said...

I must also comment that this blog site very often publishes photos of modern elephant care that we can all be proud of, such as the recent ones from Gary & Kari Johnson.

Rick Keller said...

Slavery,Womens rights,and a lot of other things were the history of this country,not always pretty,but a fact of life.there is no dout that these pictures are almost a 100 years old[no hot shots back then].Would be hard to use these as threats to modern days! Thanks very much for all the really neat history[once again A+].

Little John said...

Great dialogue and perhaps an honest and non shameful approach would be the best mediation with our passionate animal advocates. Obviously you must ask where were they and why didn’t they seek a life with the exotic creatures that they are so concerned about. Back in the day when live stock was a means of survival the public could stomach the manageable restraints of our larger companions, they paid money to see the technique. Recently I saw a Hollywood stagecoach movie from the 50’s and was shocked at the heavy hand the teamsters used on the Oregon Trail. Today the keepers of exotics are postponing the animals curtain extinction and our passionate pet owners should partner with the cause and educate themselves.

Jimmy Cole said...

I sure know how to get the comments going, that's for sure! While there are different views here, we all seem to agree that this type of thing would not be acceptable today. But as Little John pointed out, back in that era animals in entertainment didn't have it nearly as good as they do now.