News and Alerts » PAWS Agrees to Build Permanent Home for Seized Bull Elephant, Ned

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Captive bull elephants are in peril. Their need is urgent. We must construct 5,000 feet of fencing right away, before it's too late.

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PAWS Agrees to Build Permanent Home for Seized Bull Elephant, Ned

(San Andreas, CA)  Plans are already underway at PAWS to expand the ARK2000 Bull elephant habitat.

On Saturday, November 8, Ned, a severely underweight 21-year-old captive born, male Asian elephant, was confiscated by the USDA. He was confiscated from a circus trainer for failure to comply with the Animal Welfare Act.   

PAWS has agreed to provide a permanent home for Ned as soon as he is strong enough to make the trip to California. An expansion of the existing bull elephant barn and habitat at ARK 2000 will begin immediately. Ned will occupy the Galt sanctuary’s bull elephant area until construction is complete in San Andreas.

 Ned’s history is as follows:

• Ned was born in 1987 in Tampa, Florida, one of the few elephants born in captivity to survive into adulthood.
• His parents were Josie and Vance, both captured as babies in Southeast Asia. 
• Ned and his parents were the property of elephant trainer and circus performer, Roman Schmitt. 
• Mr. Schmitt was manager of the Busch Gardens’ elephant breeding program.
• At the age of two, Ned was sold to a circus elephant trainer named Buckles Woodcock. 
• Ned  performed in the Big Apple Circus.
• When the Big Apple Circus removed elephants from their line-up, Mr. Woodcock transferred Ned to Lance Ramos, another circus trainer and performer. 
• Recently, it was reported that Lance Ramos and Ned were performing in California with the Royal Hannaford traveling circus. 

PAWS was founded in 1984 to protect and provide sanctuary to abused, abandoned and retired performing animals and captive wildlife. The 2300 acre ARK 2000 Sanctuary was constructed in 2002.

The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has lobbied USDA and Congress since 1987 to end the use of elephants in traveling shows.

SAVE THE BULLS  

When PAWS agreed to accept Nicholas, a thirteen year old bull elephant from the circus, we were faced with many challenges. Bull elephants are difficult to handle because of their incredible strength, and most facilities that house bulls maintain them in maximum security prisons under primeval conditions. We vowed we would commit all our resources and energy to helping the neglected and forgotten bull elephants hidden behind locked doors. Taking Nicholas was our first step in a campaign to end the suffering, neglect and death that is the terrible fate of many captive bull elephants.
 
Since 1986, PAWS has documented the tragic demise of several young bull elephants who lived in horrible pain and suffering until death provided their final release. There was no help for them, and no place to send them. We have developed a plan to provide a spacious habitat at ARK 2000 for bulls in need of a peaceful retirement. Funding is critical for fencing and barns in the Bull Elephant Habitat.

To review actual cases of Bull elephant abuse Please Click Here (viewer discretion advised)

Nicholas is the first bull elephant who will live at ARK 2000, but PAWS is currently campaigning to obtain the release of two other bulls who are in jeopardy. Please join us in our campaign by donating even a small amount-- $1, $5, $10 to: