Massachusetts is known as one of the most humane states. Yet despite the death of an ill elephant at the 2019 Big E, “The Circus Bill” is still in the House Ways and Means Committee as we near the end of this legislative session. H. 3245, sponsored by Sen. Adam Gomez of Springfield, would ban the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling exhibits and shows. It would not affect educational zoo exhibits.

I have been protesting circuses and petting zoos with wild animals for the past 26 years and have witnessed unimaginable cruelty. I have seen firsthand the conditions in which they are forced to live, lack of veterinary care, and lack of enforcement of regulations.

A perfect example of that is Beulah, the elephant owned by Commerford Petting Zoo that died on day three of the 2019 Big E after being on exhibit, despite a serious illness. According to the USDA she died of septicemia, due to a uterine infection, which is extremely painful. It was obvious looking at Beulah on day one that she was ill. Commerford Petting Zoo knew about her deadly infection yet still scheduled her to be on exhibit for 17 days.

No authorities stepped in when they received pictures and complaints of her looking sickly the first two days and her collapse on day two. This tragedy exposed the incredibly weak government standards for animals in traveling exhibits and their lack of enforcement. And even when they are enforced, businesses with lengthy lists of violations, like Commerford, rarely lose their license.

For over three decades, Commerford forced their three elephants, all of which were torn from their families in the wild at a young age, to work at events under threat of a bullhook stab. They did tricks and gave rides for over 12 hours a day to avoid being stabbed. These majestic creatures were carted all over the Northeast in cramped trailers, sometimes for days at a time, in all temperatures and conditions.

Commerford has been cited by the USDA more than 50 times for Animal Welfare Act violations. They also have had five dangerous incidents, four of which caused hospitalization to children riding an elephant. There is also the risk of dangerous E. coli, TB, and other diseases, which are easily contracted at petting zoos … even those with no violations.

At the 2018 Big E, a picture of Minnie looking sickly while giving rides and limping went viral and sparked outrage. And there are documented incidents in which Minnie attacked her handlers and members of the public.

Over 154,000 people signed a petition asking The Big E to remove wild animals. Yet The Big E CEO claimed he wants to have more elephants and refuses to address the countless complaints he has received. He also admitted that such a ban would have no significant economic impact on The Big E, which was proved last year when The Big E had no wild animals for the first time in many decades and still broke a new attendance record.

Educational videos and museum exhibits, such as the Springfield Science Museum’s mounted elephant, are far more educational and exciting, as the animals are seen in their natural habitats. There is no educational value in seeing a wild animal forced to do unnatural things in an unnatural environment.

More than 40 countries worldwide, 10 states, and nearly 150 localities, including 15 Massachusetts towns, have passed legislation addressing the abuse of wild or exotic animals in circuses. Please put an end to such archaic cruelty and contact your state representative asking them to urge the House Ways and Means Committee to favorably release H. 3245.

We must finally make Beulah’s death meaningful and not in vain.

Sheryl Becker is president of Western Mass. Animal Rights Advocates and board member of Massachusetts for Elephants. She lives in Agawam.