NEW HANOVER COUNTY -- The Cole Brothers Circus kicks off Thursday, April 10th through Sunday April 13. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and children under 13.
Tickets can be purchased at the Azalea Festival ticket office at 5725 Oleander Dr. in Wilmington.
Showtimes
April 10-11
4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
April 12
1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
April 13
1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Bengal Kittens
The circus is a great place to see Bengal cats. For information on unique and specialized Bengal kittens visit Titan Bengals. Titan Bengals provides detailed information on the up and coming breed of kittens.
Cole Bros. Circus.....MUST READ!........URGENT!
Urge the USDA to Confiscate Ailing Elephants Tina and Jewel
Tina and Jewel, two severely neglected elephants, urgently need your help! They belong to Cole Bros., a circus that was assessed a $10,000 penalty by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for abusing elephants with bullhooks. Now things have gone from bad to worse. PETA filed a complaint with the USDA after confirming a whistleblower report noting that Jewel was emaciated. The USDA subsequently removed both elephants from the road, stating that, in the case of Jewel, "continued travel would be detrimental to her health ...." But now they are being housed at an unapproved facility in Leggett, Texas, and USDA inspection reports document a troubling pattern of poor health and Animal Welfare Act violations. According to one recent inspection, an elephant expert "determined that both elephants showed an alarming amount of weight loss."
Cole Bros. is leasing the elephants to Davenport's Gigi Exotics, which tours under a variety of circus names, such as L.E. Barnes and Bailey Circus and Starr Bros. Circus. The Davenport family formerly operated the King Royal Circus, until its USDA license was permanently revoked when a young African elephant named Heather was found dead in a crowded, overheated trailer.
PETA and In Defense of Animals are calling for these elephants to be confiscated by the USDA and relocated to The Elephant Sanctuary, where they can receive proper nourishment and veterinary care from qualified elephant caretakers.
Please send polite letters to the USDA asking that it confiscate both elephants and transfer them to a sanctuary immediately:
Chester A. Gipson, D.V.M., Deputy Administrator
USDA-APHIS-AC
4700 River Rd., Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
301-734-7833
301-734-4993 (fax)
Thank goodness her new
Thank goodness her new handler Will Davenport knows more about elephants than the former handler Adam Hill. He has done such a fantastic job that she has gained over 1000 lbs in his care. It is nice to know that people who do love animals can care for them while on the road.
Davenport Elelphants
Obviously you did not read the letter very well. THe care of the elephants have greatly declined since the take over of Davenport. He has already as the artical stated,had charges against him from the usda. The elepahnts have dropped weight and have had to be confiscated from his care. Adam Hill was the only handler that had nothing but excellent repots from usda, and all the vets that came in contact with him all over the usa. His care was the top that the elephants recieved in their lifetime. They were not treated as animals, but as memebers of his family. THe love and care that they got was something that they will never see again!! Even in a Sanctuary. So,people really need to check out their facts and know what they are talking about before they open their mouth and put their foot in it!!!All of these facts can be proven.
Animal Abuse
I would like to know what those of you who are still arguing about the ticket prices think about the animal abuse issue. The comments posted by other posters regarding the inexcusable treatment of the elephants and other animals are completely correct. How can you read about the way these majestic animals are being abused and still your only complaint is that the tickets cost too much? Ignorance might be an excuse for why people still attend the circus, but if you've read this you are not ignorant anymore. You now know how the animals are treated and if you still give the circus your money, you are directly supporting animal abuse. Shame on you.
"smiley the clown" found guilty on 9 counts of molesting a minor
8/23/01
A Cole Bros. circus clown known as "Smiley the Clown", was found guilty on 9 counts,including sodomy, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child, for sexually abusing his teenage assistant. The boy testified that the clown, Christopher Bayer, began molesting him in 1995, when he was 11 years old. (Associated Press)
RAMPAGING ELEPHANTS
7/10/95
About a dozen people were injured as they collided while trying to run from two Cole Bros. elephants who broke free before a show at Forest Park in the Queens section of New York. Seven people were treated by Emergency Medical Service and at the hospital. The elephants also damaged property including a car.(Associated Press, The Cincinnati Post)
Circus
Why are so many of you complaining about the circus? As far as the price--they are giving out free tickets for children under 12 at McDonalds.
I just paid $43.00 for two adults and my two young grand children.
Along the generations people have looked forward to and enjoyed a circus coming to town.
Several years ago the circus here was wonderful, plenty of lovely bengal tigers, a lion, elephants, horses etc. It was the only time most people ever saw an exotic animal.
Some of you complainers caused the circus to cut out the animals a couple years ago.
That year their were NO elephants, tigers lions nor horses. They had house dogs and cats running around doing tricks! Who wants to see that? I didn't go that year-without the wild animals it was not a circus. No elephant rides or anything!
This year I will take my grand daughters since I see there will at least be an elephant and couple of camels.
Stop your whining and ruining a tradition for others.
Go protest rodeos instead
cole brothers circus had its exibitor license revolked
YOU are the one complaining about no exotic bengal tigers at the cole brothers circus! They have ESCAPED SEVERAL TIMES! Do you want your grandkids to be mauled by a tiger? The cicus can't afford to pay their LIABILITY INSURANCE anymore!That is why your Grandkids won't see beautiful mistreated unhappy bengal tigers this year!
In 2000, the cole brothers circus paid a civil penalty of $10,000 to the USDA to settle charges for repeatedly violating the Animal Welfare Act. In 5 separate incidents, elephants working under Cole Bros. 'care' killed 2 spectators, injured more than a dozen others, and caused tens of thousands of dollars in property damage after going on dangerous rampages, not uncommon in elephants who suffer severe mental anguish living a life in substandard captivity .The cole Bros. LOST their exhibitor license due to their CRUEL TREATMENT OF ELEPHANTS in their care!!! So boo! hoo! for your Grandkids not getting elephant rides. They may have been trampled to death if their were elephant rides a few years ago.
In March 2003 a Cole Bros. circus employee was caught on video beating an elephant on her leg and head with a heavy broom.The video also shows an elephant who was suffering from a badly infected nail(which can be fatal in elephants), and a wound caused by a beating with a bull hook(a heavy metal hook on the end of a rod).In response to this the USDA fined Cole Bros. $2,750 for improper handling of an elephant. If you care about animals BOYCOTT THE CIRCUS PLEASE!!!!!
Cruelty to Animals!
We all need to change the way we not only treat animals, but the way we think about them.They are not a commodity,but we treat them as such.The animals that are used in the circus are treated horribly and the reason they perform tricks is because they are beaten into submission by their trainers and other circus workers.Elephants and bears are not supposed to dance and jump through hoops for us.These animals are beaten daily and trainers use electric prods, bullhooks, and whips until the animals become submissive.They are kept in tiny cramped cages and seldom are given proper exercise( that does not involve a bloody beating) or are they allowed the freedom to enjoy grass under their feet.Circus elephants usually have hoof & leg problems because they are made to stand on concrete surfaces for days on end.Is this what you want to teach your children- that is okay to torture animals as long as "perform" for us?Alot of people are on a tight budget this year.Why not save that money and instead take your child to the park or maybe a hike in the woods?Take them to see animals in their natural habitat.Children are not deprived if they do not attend a circus.I did not go as a child because even then I could see that the animals are mistreated.Take a walk around the circus tents to the back and get a good look at how the animals are treated- take a good hard look at the blank, cold stare in their lonely eyes and then maybe we we all change our tune about these majestic animals that deserve our love and respect.
cole bros
Hopefully when they are here one will escape and kill the attendance. Stop the animal cruelty and start performing without the animals. cirquedusoleil.com does a wonderful job working without animals. Boycott the Circus
and pet stores that sell dogs.
White Bengal tiger escapes from circus
7/31/04
Apollo, a 7 year-old white Bengal tiger, escaped from Cole Brothers Circus while the circus was performing in Forest Park, NY. The 450- pound tiger took a half mile stroll around the Queens section of the city, the site of him causing a multi-car accident on the Jackson Robinson Parkway that injured 4 adults and one child. Apollo was eventually coaxed back into his cage. This is the second escape of the Cole Brothers animals from Forest Park(see elephant incident 07/11/95) (Associted Press)
lion
Can ya blame him? Circus life is NO life for these wild animals. Surprised they didn't kill it for trying to be free.
Not so much the price....
as the entertainment. You pay the $20 you expect to see alot. Just like we did years ago. There were many clowns (not just 4), elephants, other exotic animal acts and several more of the "odd" people.
We went a few years ago and were not so much disappointed in the price as in the show itself.
HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE RODEOS?
HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE RODEOS? You don't think putting electric prods up a bulls behind to make it buck is cruel?
What about the bucking horses? Are they doing that because they want to?
So you want to stop the circus animal acts. Then you want to stop rodeos what next close down all the zoos and aquariums?
Activist groups over the years have been taking away more and more freedom from the public.
why not go out and volunteer and help instead of whining and trying to get rid of everything including prayer in schools?
Bored bunch of complainers!
Rodeos
Amen to that.
I will not attend the circus
I will not attend the circus again this year.
The cruelty to the animals is just too much to
to bear.
b
BOYCOTT THE CIRCUSES THAT USE ANIMALS
Good for you that you will not be attending the Cole Bros. Circus anymore...I protest against this circus with a few other people every year for the last four years and we will continue to do so...as long as the animals are still performing. One of my favorite things when we protest is passing flyers around. Circus animals live in filthy boxcars and or chains when not performing stupid tricks in the ring. The animals obey in the ring because they remember how those instruments of torture felt during training sessions. It sickens me that these poor animals suffer each and everyday of their lives for human entertainment and enjoyment. (And It's all about the BIG BUCKS for the circus)..But we can speak for them because they can't. You can do somthing to get the word out in your town and the animals will greatly appreciate in all you can do to help them. For more information on this go to CIRCUSES.com
Be their voice and with your help we can try to stop this inhumane life of the horrific acts on these beautiful animals forever =)
I am in agreeance the price
I am in agreeance the price for the tickets are just to high, yeah people don't have to go but kids want to and then parents have to break the hearts of the kids b/c it just to expensive. Me and my husband went last year and it was nothing like I remembered. Hispanic clowns you could not understand not alot of animals and was way to short.. I had planned on taking my 10 months old but with those prices, he may have to go to a bigger one else where..If I am going to pay a arm and a leg then he is going to get more than a 30 to 45 min people jumping around
circus
I took my son and Mom to their circus years ago with pre-purchased tickets. When we got in the tent they wanted MORE money to sit along the sides of the ring, if we did not pay that we would have had to sit in the cheap seats with no view. Never been back since, felt ripped off.
Blah Blah Blah
Why is it that people always have to cut other peoples decisions down because they can afford to do something. Come on people its 20 dollars if you want the good seats. They have the cheep seats. People have to always make something out of nothing! I am surprised there hasn't been a racial remark made or something to that nature. Someone always has to complain! Get over it and splurge the 20 dollars or so...it comes once a year and no one is holding a gun to your head saying you have to go, if you cant afford it then its simple....don't go!
why
why does it have to be about rich or poor or black or white. you know 20.00 is all it is and the seat up on the front row could be more dangerious. but she payed 20.00 for a front row and they asked for more. she feels riped off. well she had the money remember she did not want to sit in the cheap sit. meaning they might hurt her ass. the whole thing is cheap not just the seats in the front or back they are all the same. so lady stop refering to rich and poor.
I agree
I agree with you completely. People are complaining about the prices like they are being told they must go. It is a private business and they can set the prices as they see fit. Someone actually suggested they use the money to fix the roads - totally clueless.
Seems to me these comment
Seems to me these comment boards are here for people to give their opinions on stories. I dont think people are whining or complaining. They are just using these boards to voice their opinions. Its that simple, if you dont like it, dont read it.
I agree with cost to much
It is only my husband and I but we still can't afford to go. I would love to be able to take my 2 year old granddaughter but with the cost for my husband and I, the gas and then food and drinks we just can't afford it. It is too bad that a younger generation has to lose out on things like this that we got to enjoy as kids because of the raise in gas and food. Of course if the wages would go up like the rest then it wouldn't be so bad. Us lower class working people lose all way round.
Entertainment TOO expensive
Unfortunately, the ones making the decisions of what entertainment to bring to town - aren't living the lifestyle most of us do. Some have NO CONCEPT of what it means to struggle and try to entertain your family. I think we will walk the free street fair and then go home for dinner and a rented movie!
Lifestyle
Movies, Theater, concerts and circuses ALL cost money to attend......How about: snug Harbor botanic garden and-children's museum, the boardwalk, the beaches and the parks...There all free. Then there are the museums in Manhattan The Met, Natural History, MOMA to name but a few They all have Suggested admission prices, just give them a few buck's and the ferry is free to....Take that for a ride.
Last week in china town I saw two 5 year olds pulling empty boxes on string and having great fun racing each other.... kids will entertain themselves they don't have to attend All that New York has to offer, pick and chose what fit's your budget.
Not many can afford everything....
Are area is filled with
Are area is filled with forclosed homes, so how can people afford the circus? @20.00 dollars a head. Just one more way for the city to take money from us. Forget the circus fix the city. I know there are a few roads that need attention.
it's spelled "our"
wow, i hope a five year old wrote "are"
Circus
I agree with you both. We are also a family of 5 and intend to take our children to the circus this weekend. We did get some tickets at our local McDonalds that let a child in for free with a paying adult. It is still quite pricy, even with the coupons. I've tried winning them off of the morning news from their trivia question, but to no avail!
R u folks for real
are you guys for real -
1st of al - the animal abuse is very WELL documented !! BY the usda - as well as many other organizations -
NOW - i to think most of these peta folks are nuts - but it is clear - that you can not get a 900 lbs elephant to stand on its head - or spin around - with positive reinforcements -
also - i urge you - that if you do go - and by chance ever see tigers or big cats ( or any anamal ) - watch how the interact with their trainers -
on ringling brothers book itself - you see how they FLINCH - and are afraid of every hand movment ? I guess this is from them giving them to many treats - right ? NOT !
anyways - it is clear that these shows - are not friendly - and it is clear - that those - working for the shows - are 80 % running from someone - or something - These folks usually have some sort of criminal backgrounds - and many are preditors of children - ( good place for them to work i guess ) -
I urge you to look at the usda reports themselves - ! It shows clear disregard for anamal welfare -
Ringling trainers has been found guilty of shooting a tiger while in a cage because the tiger bit his brother while on a photo shoot - ( i guess tigers should be models now and sit pretty for pictures -
also these usda reports show - ringling ( THE BIGGEST SHOW IN THE US- WITH THE MOST $$ ) - has killed anamals by keeping them on the trains in 100 degree heat - or having the horses run on the tracks - and get stuck by on coming trains -
lastly - the elephants are the real tear jerker for me - it is so sad that these folks try to have everyone believe that they are into conservation - and protecting endanger species - all they protect is their own pocket book - ! they do not have breeding programs - for anything else then keeping their own stock up - and if you all look at there results they are horrible at doing that - in there 50 plus herd of asian elephants - over 30 have dies in the last 10 years - !! I urge you all to look at the elephant registry - it shows in the entire world - who keeps these wonderful anamals - and the exact outcome of each one of them - ie tranfered - died - ect --- it is so sad - how you see these shifted around - from zoo- to circus - back to zoos back to priv owners -
lastly - the zoos itself are part of the problem - they start these elephant breeding program s- to have a baby - to bring in folks - and then when they get bigger - they are transferred to circus's - to be tethered with chains front and back legs over 12 hrs per day -
COME ON FOLKS - open your eyes - Yes we all love remembering going to the circus when we where kids - but as the internet is out there - and knowledge it at your fingertips - wy not educate yourself on the subject ??
I bet you will never find a elephant training video - on positive training methods - only beatings - and breaking down the spirits of them to obey - WE ARE BETTER THEN THIS !!!
Yes - we should stop this abuse - and learn from our mistakes in the past - !!
as for issues with $$ - i bet your internet cost per mnth are more then 20 bucks - and your ciggs - or social act. are more then - that -
hey times are tough - and we all need to proritize - and for my family - seeing animals jumping thru hoops is not on the top of my list before gas - food - and my kids education -
who goes to this??
First of all, why bring this entertainment to town when few can afford to go?? Is there nothing else that this city can find for a family to enjoy? The circus can be fun and entertaining but at these prices we would have to watch it on TV rather than be able to attend in person.
Isn't there something else that can be done?
Cole Bros Circus
Just like you the circus is faced with rising costs. to fill one truck with diesel fuel is over $1200. They have over 20. There are discount coupons you can use for both adult and child. $5 off adult and free child with adult admission. When you pay over $6 to go to the movies plus cost of treats at movies the circus offers you an up close attraction that is rated G for families, circus is a good deal. How many movies are rated G?
There is no easy answer to todays economic problems. I am on a fixed income (retired ob SS) and have had to cut back on certain activities. Out goverment has let us down. They have done nothing to easy gas and housing problems.
as for the circus I still enjoy it and will see many this year.
Take the family to the circus-it is one of the few family attractions left today.
Government has let you down????
Are you kidding me? How about "I have let myself down for not properly planning for the future."
Your statement is picture perfect with the direction that our society is heading..."The situation I am in is not my fault (and my poor decisions), it is someone else's and they are supposed to take care of me..."
Absolutely pathetic.....
WHERE CAN YOU GET THE $5.00
WHERE CAN YOU GET THE $5.00 OFF ADULT COUPONS? I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THEM YET!
Cost too much
Too bad the tickets cost so much. It's not cheap for a family of five. Then you still have to pay for the extras: drinks,popcorn,sno-cones,etc.
Get rid of your old stuff
Have a yard sale?
we are already doing that to
we are already doing that to pay for gas and food :)
circus
in reply to your comment, most people are going to use their rebates coming out next month for food, gas and bills too. forget buying luxury items.