Cole Brothers Circus

5/21/2010

Isa (right) and Del Rita (left), two Indian elephants with the Cole Bros. Circus, are washed by Louis del Morrar (left) and Antonio Perez as they make preparations for their second night in Harrisonburg on Thursday

Coming to the Cole Brothers Circus before it actually got underway was to me so much more interesting than the show. The affection the trainers have for the animals was really sweet to witness, and young acrobats practicing under the big top without the spotlights was more spectacular.

Wendy Aguillar, 12, practices maintaining her balance while her instructor, Adolfo Ponce, watches during early afternoon exercise for the young acrobat under the tent for Cole Bros. Circus on their second night in Harrisonburg on Thursday.

Lamount Dayes, also known as "The Human Volcano," gives a kiss to Lawrence the camel inside Lawrence's pen.

The Ring Hostess Alissandra von Rose checks her reflection in a mirror before the Cole Bros. Circus performs under the big top.

Quinton Hinsley, 4, laughs as he watces a pair of clowns acting up at the Cole Bros. Circus during their final performance under the big top at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.

Ringmaster Chris Conners of the Cole Bros. Circus walks out of the performer's entrance before the show at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on Thursday.

1 Comment

Merry

6/27/2011 12:07:51 pm

Poor brutalized Delrita born in the wild and ripped from her family in 1970, she has been abused, and used ever since.

From USDA affidavit of Byran M., former Carson & Barnes employee:

"When she (the elephant Del Rita) refused to hand over her trunk Joe (Frisco) took his bullhook and, using it like a baseball bat, proceeded to hit her between the eyes four times. She still refused. At this point Joe and Ben started beating Del Rita with their bullhooks. Ben was on her left side hooking the top of her ear, jabbing her left rear leg and using baseball swings with his bullhook on her side and rear legs. Joe was hitting her across her forehead and hooking her trunk with his bullhook. When this failed ... Joe pulled the hand held black hotshot (an electric prod)... out of his back pocket. He was shocking her left hind leg, her front leg, her face and her tongue. Joe then had Darren hand him the three foot long red hotshot. He shocked her at least fifty times. During the entire beating Del Rita was defecating and urinating. She was trying to get away ... but was chained up and could not go anywhere. She kept moving from side to side. The other elephants in the barn started trumpeting loudly and defecating, urinating excessively and moving from side to side during the beatings. Tim (Frisco) said,'The only way to handle elephants is to take them into the barn and beat the f--k out of them, shock till they drop.' "

Cole Brothers Circus

Leave a Reply.