Residents are being asked to support elephants’ rights.
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Illinois Animal Action, Inc., a Warrenville-based animal rights organization, recently sent a mailing to 1,000 businesses, churches and health-care professionals, urging them to declare themselves “Ele-Friends” and not to support circuses featuring pachyderms.
Debbie Leahy, president of Illinois Animal Action, said the campaign was conceived after hundreds of area residents responded to the group’s newspaper ads objecting to Naper Settlement’s 1997 sponsorship of the Kelly-Miller Circus. The non-profit 19th Century museum village has announced plans to sponsor the circus in September to raise funds for its educational programs.
Illinois Animal Action charges that circus elephants are “deprived of all natural behavior” and are forced to perform tricks or risk harsh punishment.
Dana Sendziol, public relations manager for Naper Settlement, said circus performances would go on as scheduled.
“We are satisfied that the animals are not being mistreated, and we stand confident in our decision to sponsor the circus,” Sendziol said.
Leahy said that two Naperville businesses had signed up.