For anyone that's interested. The Hawthorn elephants are 12 elephants that were relinquished by John Cuneo to settle a lawsuit with the USDA. Originally 16 elephants, 3 have been sent to TES (where Lota subsequently died from TB) and one died in chains at the Hawthorn barn:( They have been languishing in a barn for about a year and 1/2. Link to video of the elephants in the barn. Not graphic but so sad and so eerily quiet to watch them sway. 3/4 of the way down to the left - click on "Hawthorn Elephants Video"
http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/index.php

I dislike John Cuneo greatly.:whip: Ugh, AND he still has his tigers and 1 lion....I guess he treats them better than he does his elephants :no:


This is the latest update from The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

hawthorn update 9/6

Dear Hawthorn elephant supporter,

Months have passed and still the
Hawthorn elephants remain in chains in their Illinois barn.
Communications have completely broken down. Neither USDA nor the Hawthorn
Corporation is giving out any information regarding the condition of the
elephants or pending placement. The attorney for the Hawthorn's continues to
state that the Hawthorn Corporation will not discuss the placement of any
Hawthorn elephants to the Sanctuary until four female Hawthorn elephants are
placed with the Carson and Barnes Circus. Our hands are tied.

Our new Asian elephant barn is
nearing completion. The required perimeter fence system is also close to
complete. The contractors are confident that by the beginning of October the
barn will be ready for its new occupants.

When we have any news we will
contact you.


Thanks for your concern and support,


Carol

So sad. I hope something happens. (something good)

Unfortunately I think 4 elephants will end up at Carson and Barnes. I think he wants to make a point of "proving" that he (Cuneo) has the last say. I truly truly hope this won't be the case. Also, there is one male in the group - Nicholas with no-where to go. PAWS and TES do not accept males so no one knows what will happen to him :furious: It may well be 3 girls and Nicholas to C&B.

It's all so very sad, these elephants have had such lousy lives - they deserve so much better than C&B.

Wow, that sucks big time, I've protested Carson & Barnes several times, they're a little run-down assberry of a circus, incapable of even washing themselves, let alone care for elephants. The suffering must be horrible for them stuck in that barn, but at least they have each other. It's the helplessness of situations like this that make me feel that doing whatever is necessary to help animals is acceptable, providing no one gets hurt as a result (although I'd have no issue with givng an ass like this guy a cricket bat up the ass).

Yea, of all the awful places to go to C&B... As far as I know, Tim Frisco still works for them (Byrd recently is quoted as saying he is one of the best elephant trainers out there! - gag) I heard a rumor once that C&B wanted to be the next "Hawthorn" meaning they would be the ones who would rent out elephants to all the circuses. I feel so sad for the babies too - what kind of life to have for the next XX years....

AND as far as I can recall, his consent decree does not prohibit him (Cuneo) from getting more elephants - he is an old man so I am hoping he doesn't. He still has tigers and 1 lion.

Before he was relieved of his elephants, Mr Cuneo appeared in our local newspaper. The Shrine Circus, using Hawthorn elephants, was in town, and the local media continued its tradition of covering the circus controversy by giving airtime to only the circus's side. :rolleyes:
Cuneo stated that all of his elephants were treated with "tender loving care" and the AR groups' arguments against circuses were based on information "nearly 50 years old." A year later, Hawthorn was facing unprecedented cruelty charges. Boy, industry spokespeople sure are trustworthy.

Ha, yea. Lota the elephant that was sold to him from the Milwaukee zoo for $1.00 on the condition that she be used to breed only (he never bred his elephants) got sick with TB. She looked awful (like walking death) for many years. On this circus site that I read, one of his buddies told them that in fact, Lota had been on a diet because she was too fat. Good lord.

In fact, Lota was dragged in chains from her enclosure, when she fell under the truck she was beaten and dragged into the truck all the while screaming and urinating blood. She was forced to perform for many many years, alot of them sick with TB.

Finally in Nov. 2004 she was transferred to TES. She died less than 3 months later.

Scroll down 1/4 way under "reality" and you will see Lota chained in the Hawthorn barn. Yea, he sure gives his elephants lots of TLC.
http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/elephant-ent-02.html

Finally some good news. I am crying tears of joy - it's been a long hard struggle for so so many people and an even longer one for these poor elephants. May they live long long happy lives at TES!!

(full Press release link)
http://www.elephants.com/pr/pr_11_29_05.htm

The Elephant Sanctuary Begins the Largest Rescue of
Needy Circus Elephants in US History

Hohenwald, TN (November 29, 2005)- Following months of negotiations, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has been granted the care of 12 needy elephants from the Hawthorn Corp in Richmond, IL. Having recently received three elephants from this herd, the Sanctuary will begin transferring the remaining 9 elephants in late December and plans to have completed the transfer by mid-January. As the single largest rescue of elephants in US history, this is an unprecedented event that could not have come too soon.

Over the past twenty years the United Stated Department of Agriculture has cited the Hawthorn Corporation numerous times for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Two years ago John Cuneo, CEO of the Hawthorn Corporation was found guilty of nineteen counts of elephant abuse ranging from soaking elephants’ feet in full strength formaldehyde to regularly forcing elephants to stand in excessive temperatures without shade or water for days at a time. Though Cuneo agreed to find new homes for all sixteen elephants in his possession, placement had been difficult due to the fact that the entire herd had been exposed to the human strain of tuberculosis and two elephants had tested positive for the disease.

That is wonderful news! I love The Elephant Sanctuary.
:smitten:

Thanks for sharing the happy ending