During Thursday of last week, Ringing Brothers announced their world-famous circus will no longer have elephants as part of the line up effective in 2018. Naturally, People for the Extortion Torture and Abuse of human beings (PeTA) is ecstatic at the news. However, despite their victory claim, PeTA even went so far as to allege that the elephants were infected with a human strain of tuberculosis. According to Outbreak News, the group has alleged the elephants have been infected with the disease since 2010. Shortly after this became known, Ringling Brothers flatly denied the charges. In a statement released by Ringing Brothers the organization response is:

Allegations that Ringling Bros. traveling elephants are infected with tuberculosis are patently false. The latest misrepresentations and false claims are misguided scare tactics that are wrongfully based on a test, called STAT-PAK, that was never conclusive, sometimes inaccurate and was the subject of at least one lawsuit as a result. The test is subsequently no longer in use in the United States. See Elephant Walk, Inc. v. Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., Case No. 1:13-cv-195 (N.D. Fla. ).

Claims that elephants with a reactive test result are infected and diagnosed with the disease are simply not true and exhibit a reckless disregard for public safety and the science involved with such a complex issue. All touring elephants are required to undergo continuous, regular testing that is overseen by the USDA and monitored at the state level as well.

The serological test results referred to in the documents obtained by PETA are not proof of infection. A “reactive” result on a serological test only suggests the presence of antibodies in the blood and that is not the same as being infected. These serologic tests have not been fully validated, and while useful as a screening tool, should not be used or misinterpreted as a conclusive solo diagnostic tests.

Elephants are susceptible to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex organisms, which is the same form of the disease found in humans. However, Mtb is transmitted only through close, prolonged contact with a person or animal that is actively infected and shedding the organism. Thus, even if an elephant were infected, all scientific evidence makes it clear that casual exposure or even contact with an elephant does not present any recognizable risk to humans. Therefore, transmission of elephant Mtb to humans is primarily an occupational health concern rather than a general public health concern.

Ringing Brothers’ circuses have been the subject of a decades-long harassment campaign from animal-rights activists, who alleged elephant mistreatment. In 2014, groups, like PeTA, had their day in court to prove their claims — and lost decisively. A judge dismissed their case, finding that animal rights groups had covertly paid their key witness almost $200,000 in which the witness lied under oath. Ringling’s parent company sued the activists for racketeering and bribery collecting $25 million in settlement money, including from the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Despite the animal rights movement’s stinging loss in court who were not only unable to prove their claims of abuse on the part of Ringling Brothers, they are still persistent in their campaigns to shut down circuses who use animals for entertainment. The fact that PeTA would knowingly distort the facts related to the health condition of Ringling Bros’ elephants is no surprise since, as the 2014 lawsuit is any proof, animal rights groups will do anything and everything to advance their cause. By delegitimizing Ringing Brothers they can not only undermine the company in the court of public opinion but that also means other circuses who use elephants or even animals in general are potential targets. The ultimate goal is to prevent animals as being used as means of entertainment for humans.