The trial of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the legendary US circus which is accused of mistreating elephants, has been delayed, possibly for several months, a spokeswoman for the plaintiffs said.
The trial was due to begin Monday before a federal court in Washington, eight years after a Ringling Bros. employee, backed by four animal welfare organizations, brought a case against the circus for the mistreatment of Asian elephants under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The lawsuit alleges that a number of practices by Ringling Bros, billed as "The Greatest Show on Earth," violate the ESA.
These included the "forceful use of bull hooks to control, train and discipline the elephants and the chaining of the elephants for most of the day and night," the Animal Welfare Institute, one of the groups involved in the case, says on its website.
The trial was put back after the circus presented 19 new witnesses.
"It's highly disappointing that the case has been postponed. Hopefully, we'll be even better prepared" when the case comes to trial, possibly at the beginning of next year, said Tracy Silverman, general counsel for the Animal Welfare Institute.
In a statement issued last week, Michelle Pardo, a representative of the law firm defending Feld Entertainment, the circus' parent company, accused the animal rights groups of "distorting the facts by making false allegations."
Pardo said the case was "part of a long-running crusade to eliminate animals from circuses, zoos and wildlife parks."
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