USDA Investigates Death of Circus Lion

Activists Challenge Ringling Brothers' Account, Say They Notified Federal Officials

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 8, 2004; Page A03

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus is facing a federal investigation amid allegations that it allowed a young lion to die in a sweltering animal train crossing the Mojave Desert and then tried to keep key information from the government.

Soon after the investigation was launched, a recently fired Ringling Brothers lion handler delivered an affidavit to Agriculture Department officials contending that the lion died because the boxcar it was riding in was extremely hot and the animal needed water.

He said circus officials would not stop the train to cool the animal off despite reports by him and another handler that the 2-year-old lion, named Clyde, and other animals were suffering from intense heat.


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