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Hawthorn Factsheet
Hawthorn Corporation has failed to meet minimal
federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as
established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Hawthorn Corporation numerous times
for failure to provide veterinary care, adequate shelter from the
elements, and proper food and water, as well as failure to handle
animals in a manner that prevents trauma and harm and ensures public
safety. Hawthorn has accumulated $72,500 in USDA penalties and has
twice had its license suspended. Four of Hawthorn's elephants died
from a human strain of tuberculosis. In January 1997, Hawthorn's
herd of 18 elephants was restricted from traveling during tuberculosis
treatment. Hawthorn's elephants have rampaged, causing death, injury,
and property damage. Hawthorn leases animals to facilities and circuses
around the world, including Jordan World Circus, Circus Vargas,
Shrine Circuses, Walker Bros. Circus, Royal Palace Circus, George
Carden Circus, Hanneford Circus, Hamid Circus, Alain Zerbini, and
Tarzan Zerbini. 
11 May 2003: The
USDA filed charges against Hawthorn Corporation, several Hawthorn
employees, and Walker Bros. Circus, which used Hawthorn's elephants.
The complaint alleges 47 violations of the minimum standards of
care established in the AWA that affected 12 elephants between 03/29/01
and 06/01/02. Charges include using physical abuse to train, handle,
and work an elephant, causing physical harm and discomfort, failing
to provide veterinary care to an emaciated elephant, failure to
provide veterinary care to an elephant suffering with severe chemical
burns and a bacterial infection, failure to provide veterinary care
to several elephants with potentially deadly foot problems, and
unsafe public contact. (Knight Ridder Newspapers)
5 March 2003:The
Al Shamal Shriners of Edmonton announced that they will no longer
use animals from Hawthorn. (Edmonton Sun)
September 4-5, 2002:
According to The Virginian-Pilot, an elephant handler with Sterling
& Reid, David Creech, was charged with four counts of animal
cruelty for beating an elephant until her hide was bloody while
performing at the Norfolk Scope on August 23. The article stated,
"An investigation by the officer and an outside veterinarian
determined that the elephant suffered multiple lacerations."
The circus is leasing its elephant act from Hawthorn.
Another elephant handler, James Zajicek, a Hawthorn employee, was
arrested and charged with obstructing justice.
December 19, 2001:
The USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to maintain an elephant transport
trailer in a manner to prevent injury to the animals.
October 27, 2001: Two
Hawthorn elephants named Debbie and Judy rampaged at the Word of
Life Church in Charlotte, N.C. Two church members were nearly trampled,
and children had to be quickly ushered to safety. The elephants
crashed into the church through a glass window, broke and buckled
walls and door frames, and knocked a car 15 feet, causing an estimated
$75,000 in damages. The elephants suffered cuts and bruises. Debbie
had rampaged twice before with an elephant named Frieda while she
was with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus. In May 1995, she smashed
windows, dented cars, and crashed through a plate-glass window at
a Sears Auto Center in Hanover, Pa., causing $20,000 in property
damage. In July 1995, Debbie bolted from the circus tent in Queens,
N.Y., crushing parked cars and triggering a panic that left 12 people
injured.
October 11-15, 2001:
The USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to correct previously identified
violations of not providing veterinary care and not maintaining
facilities.
An elephant named Lota had been returned to the
Illinois compound two months earlier in an emaciated state, with
a lump on her left hip. The property manager and trainer stated
that they had never seen Lota so thin. The lump had expanded into
a large, painful, fluid-filled abscess that extended down to her
mid-thigh. Lota and four other elephants (Misty, Queenie, Minnie,
and Lottie) were being given tuberculosis medication as a "preventative
treatment." Lota and Misty were both in need of foot care.
Lota had not been weighed since 1997. There were no veterinary care
records for these animals.
The inspector found several bottles of medication,
said to be used on the elephants, that had no labels identifying
the contents, instructions for use, or expiration date.
Hawthorn was also cited for failure to maintain
the structural strength of the elephant barn and improper food storage.
October 11, 2001: The
USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to correct a previously identified
violation of not providing veterinary care by an experienced veterinarian
to elephants traveling with Walker Bros. Circus. The inspector wrote,
"I spoke with the veterinarian ... that had examined the animals
on 10/10/01. He stated that he was not sure about the proper treatment
for the elephants because he did not have much experience [in] treating
them."
October 5, 2001:
The USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to correct previously identified
violations of not providing veterinary care and security for its
elephants traveling with Walker Bros. Circus.
Delhi had an open, draining, and bleeding wound
on her nail with blood stains on and around the nail and foot. The
area above the nail was swollen and warm to the touch. The cuticles
on both of her front feet were "very overgrown." Delhi
was limping in pain and favored her leg during the performance.
There were no documents to indicate that a qualified person was
providing foot care. Tess’ left eye was very teary, and she
was squinting; the trainer claimed that he had run out of an antibiotic
ointment to treat her eye. Two bottles of expired medication were
found by the inspector.
The inspector also observed that an experienced
elephant handler was not present while the public came near elephants
walking freely in a pen. The inspector returned later, after the
report had been discussed with the licensee, and again found that
the elephants were loose and unattended.
October 2, 2001:
The USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to provide veterinary care to
three elephants (Liz, Delhi, and Tess, traveling with Walker Bros.
Circus) with overgrown nails and cuticles. Hawthorn was also cited
for failure to have dangerous animals under the control of experienced
handlers. The inspector observed parents and children approaching
and petting elephants while no attendant was present.
Hawthorn was cited for failure to provide structurally
sound enclosures. The inspector wrote, "[T]he elephants were
inside an orange plastic mesh ‘fence.’ It was down in
two places. ... [Local authorities] informed me that earlier in
the day, at least one [elephant] was outside this enclosure. Two
[elephants] were completely free from any restraint. ... A water
hose was running water over an electrical cord. This area was able
to be touched by both elephants and the public."
October 1, 2001:
The Harlan County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in
Kentucky lodged a complaint with a county judge after observing
that Hawthorn elephants with Walker Bros. Circus had "numerous
red and raw spots on their ears from being speared with the hook-like
device the trainer uses. ... The traveling quarters for the animals
were at best cramped and inadequate. And at no time did I see any
water dish or clean food be provided for any of the ... elephants."
September 25, 2001:
Hawthorn was cited for improper food storage.
July 11, 2001: Hawthorn
was cited for failure to correct previously identified violations
of not disposing of expired medications and not making necessary
repairs to the barn.
Hawthorn was also cited for failure to provide
adequate veterinary care to three elephants with excessively overgrown
nails.
June 27, 2001: During
an inspection conducted at Walker Bros. Circus, Hawthorn was cited
for failure to provide adequate veterinary care to four elephants
with "excessive pad and toenail overgrowth on their feet"
and overgrown cuticles. The inspector wrote, "It does not appear
that these animals have had proper foot care in a significant amount
of time."
Hawthorn was cited for failure to provide adequate
veterinary care to an elephant named Lota who was "excessively
thin, with a protruding spine and hip bones." The inspector
wrote, "It appears that she has lost a significant amount of
weight."
The USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to have dangerous
animals under the control of experienced handlers and failure to
have adequate safety barriers. The inspector observed members of
the public approaching the elephants and being loaded on an elephant
for rides while no handler was present.
June 26, 2001: The
USDA cited Hawthorn for physically abusing elephants. The inspector
observed the handler gouge an elephant named Ronnie on the trunk
with a bullhook, causing an open lesion, and a different handler
was "observed raking the back of another elephant several times
with his hook during the performance."
May 23, 2001: Hawthorn
was cited for failure to provide records of acquisition. The inspector
also noted that Misty had an abscess on her left front foot and
that her feet were in need of trimming.
April 13, 2001:
A letter to the editor published in the Chicago Sun-Times stated,
"I escorted a group of schoolchildren, including my 8-year-old
daughter, to this year's Medinah Shrine Circus. ... When the elephants
were brought behind the curtain, the trainer began verbally abusing
and hitting the elephant. We watched in horror as he swung a stick
with all his force and struck the elephant in the back of the leg.
This must have hurt because the elephant let out a scream that could
be heard throughout the UIC Pavilion. The kids were frightened and
asked me why the man was hurting the elephant."
According to documents from the city of Chicago,
a cruelty to animals complaint was filed against trainer John Caudill,
a Hawthorn employee. The elephants used at Medinah Shrine Circus
were leased from Hawthorn.
March 29, 2001:
Hawthorn was cited for failure to provide adequate veterinary care
to an elephant named Delhi traveling with Walker Bros. Circus. Delhi
had an injury on her left front foot. The inspector wrote, "The
lesion is open and bleeding today and should be evaluated by a veterinarian."
March 1, 2001: The
USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to correct a previously identified
violation of not disposing of expired medications. Hawthorn was
also cited for failure to maintain a tiger enclosure with an "extremely
rusty shift door with sharp metal edges" and an "excessively
chewed/clawed" wood partition. Hawthorn was cited for inadequate
ventilation in a barn with "an extremely strong urine odor."
The inspector noted that a 12-year-old white male tiger named Neve
died while being transported back to winter quarters and that a
6-year-old white female tiger named Java died in June 2000.
February 23, 2001:
The USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to correct a previously identified
violation of not repairing damages to a trailer used to transport
tigers.
July 11, 2000: The
USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to correct a previously identified
violation of improper feeding of its tigers. Hawthorn was also cited
for a trailer in disrepair.
June 6, 2000: The
USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to dispose of expired medications,
improper food storage, and failure to maintain the structural
strength of a tiger enclosure with a rusted wall and sharp, exposed
edges.
May 21, 2000: According
to the Hanover Sun, Cuneo put a killer elephant named Freda back
on tour with a traveling circus in defiance of a USDA directive
that she posed an "unacceptable risk to public."
November 16, 1999:
Hawthorn was cited for failure to maintain enclosures in a manner
that protects the animals from injury and for storing moldy food.
August 18, 1999:
The USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to have annual tuberculosis
tests for the elephant handlers.
July 9, 1999: The
USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to provide veterinary care to an
elephant named Lota who had a "large open wound on the right
hip area." The inspector wrote, "During the inspection
the left side of the wound was weeping and bloody."
June 16, 1999: The
USDA cited Hawthorn for failure to have a veterinarian-approved
diet plan for the tigers, handle food in a manner that prevents
contamination, and submit the required itinerary.
May 11, 1999: The USDA denied Hawthorn's
request to use an elephant named Frieda in public exhibition, stating
that she posed an "unacceptable risk to public, and therefore
her own, safety." Frieda had rampaged several times while touring
with Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus.
March 16, 1999: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide proper veterinary care. The inspector noted
that a tiger was administered medication that had expired. Hawthorn
was also cited for improper and moldy food storage.
November 12, 1998: Hawthorn was cited for
failure to follow the veterinary care program.
May 18, 1998: The USDA cited Hawthorn for
failure to provide veterinary care to a tiger named Bulba who was
extremely thin. The inspector also found several
outdated medications, improper and moldy food storage, and unsanitary
housekeeping.
May 13-17, 1998: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. An elephant had
an accumulation of necrotic skin and abrasions. All elephants were
in need of foot care, skin care, and exercise. The condition of
the animals suggested that they had been housed in the transport
trailer for an extended period of time.
The inspector observed blood and blood stains
on an elephant's face and earflap.
The animals did not have access to water. When
the inspector instructed the handler to offer water, two elephants
drank continuously from a bucket for eight
minutes and two others drank continuously for five minutes.
April 7, 1998: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for improper maintenance of transport trailers.
March 16, 1998: Cuneo agreed to a fine
of $60,000 and a 45-day license suspension to settle USDA charges
that his company mistreated elephants after
two of his elephants died of tuberculosis in August 1996.
February 26, 1998: Hawthorn was cited for
failure to have an adequate veterinary care program and a written
contingency plan for elephant escapes.
November 20-21, 1997: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failing to provide veterinary care. The tuberculosis treatment
protocol prescribed for the elephants was not being followed. The
inspector also found improper food storage and poor housekeeping.
October 9, 1997: Hawthorn was cited for
improper food storage.
July 23, 1997: The USDA filed charges against
Hawthorn, alleging it continued exhibiting tigers in Albuquerque,
N.M., while its license was suspended.
April 10, 1997: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failing to provide veterinary care. The inspector noted that
the tuberculosis treatment and testing protocol prescribed for the
elephants by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians was not
being followed. Hawthorn was also cited for failing to maintain
structures.
February 6, 1997: Hawthorn was cited for
failure to provide veterinary care. The inspector wrote, "Lota
is extremely thin and eyes appear to be sunken in." The
inspector also found outdated medication.
The USDA suspended Hawthorn's license for 21 days
after the exhibitor attempted to export a baby elephant named Nickolaus
to Puerto Rico despite the fact that the animal had tested positive
for tuberculosis.
January 4, 1997: An internal USDA document
contained a list identifying facilities with animals who were at
risk of tuberculosis due to exposure to Hawthorn's elephants: Gary
Johnson's elephant compound, Utica Zoo, Catskill Game Farm, Pittsburgh
Zoo, Walker Bros. Circus, Alain Zerbini, Tarzan Zerbini, George
Carden Circus, Carson & Barnes Circus, Heritage Zoo, and Riddle's
Elephant Farm.
January 1997: Hawthorn's herd of elephants
was prohibited by the USDA from traveling, and Cuneo was not permitted
to introduce a breeding bull into the
tuberculosis-infected herd. Fourteen of the 18 elephants were considered
at high risk of being infected.
November 12, 1996: Cuneo rejected an offer
to send a 45-year-old elephant named Lota to a sanctuary. The Milwaukee
Zoo donated Lota to Cuneo in 1990 despite a public outcry. The publicized
transport depicted Lota being beaten onto a trailer, falling, and
urinating blood. Lota was subsequently leased to circuses, contracted
tuberculosis, and became emaciated.
October 22, 1996: Florida health officials
obtained a court injunction to stop Liz and Lota, two Hawthorn elephants
who were traveling with Walker Bros. Circus, from entering the state
because they were infected with tuberculosis.
August 29, 1996: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to properly store food and maintain records of acquisition
and disposition.
August 28, 1996: According to an internal
USDA memo, four Hawthorn employees tested positive for tuberculosis.
August 15, 1996: USDA Acting Deputy Administrator
Ron DeHaven wrote regarding discovery of a human strain of tuberculosis
in Hawthorn's elephants, "[T]he state of New Mexico has told
Hawthorn to leave the state or be quarantined. … There are
huge epidemiological considerations, too, since Cuneo buys, sells,
trades, and moves elephants like a livestock market."
August 6, 1996: A 26-year-old Hawthorn
elephant named Hattie, who was leased to Circus Vargas and gave
rides to children just prior to her death, died of tuberculosis
while being transported from California to Illinois.
August 3, 1996: A 35-year-old Hawthorn
elephant named Joyce, who was leased to Circus Vargas and gave rides
to children until her death, died under anesthesia for a dental
exam. She was anesthetized against the advice of a veterinarian
who felt the procedure was too risky for an animal in such a debilitated
state. Joyce was 1,000 pounds underweight, and 80 percent of her
lung tissue had been destroyed by tuberculosis.
July 18, 1996: A Hawthorn white tiger bit
the hand of a carnival worker while performing at the Orange County
Fair in Middletown, N.Y.
July 17, 1996: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide veterinary care and proper food and to maintain
records on the animals.
June 21, 1996: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide veterinary care.
June 18, 1996: Hawthorn was cited for failure
to provide veterinary care. The inspector noted, "Lack of records
demonstrating observation and treatment of
injury to the skin approximately 2 inches medial to Misty's [elephant's]
left eye." The inspector also observed that the current veterinary
care program was not being followed and records of acquisition were
not maintained.
June 14, 1996: A Hawthorn elephant named
Misty, who was giving rides to children with Jordan World Circus
and was previously identified as "potentially
dangerous," knocked down and repeatedly kicked her trainer.
One child fell off the elephant during the incident in Casper, Wyo.
 May
10, 1996: The USDA cited Hawthorn for failing to provide access
to veterinary records.
May 7, 1996: Hawthorn paid a $12,500 penalty
to settle USDA charges of causing Tyke trauma and harm and of jeopardizing
public safety. Police shot Tyke to death on August 20, 1994, after
she rampaged and killed her trainer.
March 27, 1996: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide an adequate veterinary care program and maintain
records of acquisition.
March 25, 1996: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for inadequate housekeeping, pest control, and food storage.
October 26, 1995: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide adequate shelter and water for the elephants,
improper food storage, and failure to
submit an itinerary.
August 21, 1995: Hawthorn was cited for
failure to provide adequate shelter for the elephants.
July 28, 1995: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for inadequate structural maintenance.
January 20, 1995: In an internal USDA document,
Acting Deputy Administrator Ron DeHaven identified Hawthorn elephants
Sue, Billy, Misty, Tony, and Hattie
as "potentially dangerous."
January 17, 1995: According to USDA documents,
while Michael Pursley worked for Hawthorn, "David Polke instructed
Pursley to command Hattie to 'lay down' (sic) and then beat Hattie
with an ax handle. …[T]rainers also used water and food deprivation
and electric shock from a cattle prod on the elephants. …[H]e
witnessed Tommy Thompson, manager at Cuneo's animal facility at
Richmond, Ill., shock (hot shot) an elephant repeatedly for one-half
hour in order to get the elephant to lay down (sic) and get up upon
voice commands."
December 17, 1994: A Hawthorn elephant
named Dumbo died of tuberculosis.
October 26, 1994: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide veterinary care records for an elephant named
Amy who had been euthanized. Hawthorn was also cited for inadequate
housekeeping and pest control, as well as failure to maintain records
of acquisition and disposition.
September 15, 1994: Hawthorn was cited
for the second time in three months for feeding inedible food to
the tigers.
August 20, 1994: While performing at the
Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, a 20-year-old Hawthorn
elephant named Tyke crushed to death her
trainer, Allen Campbell, attacked and injured two others, and panicked
the crowd, causing several more injuries. Tyke escaped into the
streets of downtown
Honolulu during the afternoon rush hour. Over the next hour, police
fired 87 bullets into Tyke as she charged after pedestrians and
smashed vehicles
throughout several blocks. Tyke died of massive nerve damage and
haemorrhaging of the brain.
* Campbell was described as a "punishment-type"
trainer who worked the elephants hard. An autopsy found that he
had cocaine and alcohol in his system.
July 14, 1994: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide a program of veterinary care.
June 16, 1994: Hawthorn was cited for feeding
inedible food to the tigers.
May 11, 1994: The USDA cited Hawthorn for
inadequate structural maintenance.
May 9, 1994: The USDA cited Hawthorn for
failure to provide a veterinary care program and medical records.
Hawthorn was also cited for failure to maintain a transport trailer
for the elephants and maintain records of acquisition and disposition.
February 14, 1994: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for failure to provide a veterinary care program.
January 13-14, 1994: The USDA cited Hawthorn
for unsanitary and improper food storage, poor housekeeping, and
having outdated medications and dirty water containers.
July 23, 1993: An elephant named Tyke ran
amok at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, N.D., trampling and
injuring a handler and frightening the crowd as
she ran uncontrolled for 25 minutes.
April 22, 1993: According to an affidavit
obtained by the USDA from circus worker Richard Rosio, Tyke attacked
a tiger trainer while the circus was in
Altoona, Pa.
April 21, 1993: An elephant named Tyke
ripped through the front doors of the Jaffa Mosque during a performance
and ran out of control for an hour in
Altoona, Pa. An estimated 4,500 schoolchildren had to evacuate the
building, and the rampage caused more than $14,000 in damage.
June 21, 1988: According to USDA and Canadian
law enforcement documents, while a Hawthorn elephant named Tyke
was performing with Tarzan Zerbini
Circus, "The elephant handler was observed beating the single-tusk
African elephant in public to the point [where] the elephant was
screaming and bending
down on three legs to avoid being hit. Even when the handler walked
by the elephant after this, the elephant screamed and veered away,
demonstrating
fear from his presence." The handler was John Caudill (a.k.a.
John Walker of Walker Bros. Circus) who admitted to "disciplining"
Tyke after she hit Caudill's
brother and put a hole in his back with her tusk.
May 28, 1981: An 11-year-old Hawthorn elephant
named Tina, with a one-year history of weight loss, died under anesthesia
and was found to have tuberculosis.
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