Baby Elephant Barack Contracts Deadly Herpes Virus

Barack is a baby elephant that has recently been "working" with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It has been confirmed that he is now suffering from a deadly herpes virus. A virus that can easily be prevented. This certain deadly herpes virus is endotheliotropic herpes virus, or EEHV. EEHV is thought to be caused in part by stress. Stress can weaken the immune system, therefore giving the baby elephant a much greater chance of contracting this herpes virus.

Barack was moved to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa by Ringling when he was less than a year old. Only one month after performing in Orlando and Jacksonville, he was taken off the road because of his deadly virus conraction. Ringling could have easily stopped this from happening. The circus subjected the young elephant to the stress that most likely caused him to contract EEHV. From transporting him at such a young age, to forcing him to learn cruel circus "tricks", to having him constantly surrounded with trainers that use bullhooks to keep the animals in line. In his first performance, and many after, he was forced to walk around the arena & climb a pedestal, which is very unnatural for any animal of his size.

This baby elephant is not expected to live a very long life at all. Death from endotheliotropic herpes virus usually occurs less than seven days after contraction! The first symptoms of this virus are lethargy, head and limb swelling, and a blue discoloration of the tongue. All of these are both very painful and reasons for him not to perform anymore. This virus eventually causes massive internal hemorrhaging which leads to a quick but painful death. This virus is responsible for more than half of all juvenile elephant deaths in North American facilities. Most of the elephants in North America are here because of circuses like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

If Barach survives, he will not have a wonderful life to look forward too. He will be pulled away from his mother, also captured and put to work by the same circus, when he is around 18 months old. Then he will be subjected to more cruel training sessions. These sessions include him being tied down w/ ropes and being slammed to the ground to teach some "tricks." Others are taught using bullhooks and being electrically shocked!

PETA is working to save baby Barack by asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate and charge the circus for putting this elephant in harms way and allowing him to contract eldotheliotropic herpes virus.