When we first noticed that the Big Apple Circus was coming to Government Center, we did a little research and didn't find any evidence of animal cruelty, a charge frequently leveled at circuses. Then, late last night, we found something that indicated the circus came under fire from PETA back in '99 for taking animals from the wild, specifically elephants. We were confused: when we first looked at the Big Apple Circus we didn't see any elephants mentioned or pictured.

And now we know why: it appears that sometime in '99 (March we think), the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) targeted Big Apple Circus and firebombed six vehicles, totally destroying two, in response to the circus' use of once-wild elephants. Big Apple eventually gave into pressure that year, and stopped using elephants. We're unable to find any evidence or claim of animal abuse after 1999.

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