Banning Weapons Used on Elephants in Traveling Shows

In 2016, Born Free USA successfully worked with coalitions in Rhode Island and California to pass legislation prohibiting the use of weapons designed to inflict pain on elephants in traveling shows. These precedent-setting laws will ensure that elephant trainers can no longer use these brutal tools, like the bullhook. A bullhook is a long, thick pole with a sharp metal hook attached to the end that trainers often embed into the soft tissue on sensitive body parts of elephants. We commend Rhode Island and California for passing compassionate legislation!