MAINE SHRINE DATES

Maine circus shows must go on without elephants
The show's producer calls it 'a bureaucratic nightmare,' but the state says all elephants must be tested for tuberculosis before entering Maine.

 

Cora, a 47-year-old elephant, and her owner Cindy Morris, have previously been part of the Shriner Circus at the Augusta Civic Center.
from:  pressherald.com
By KEITH EDWARDS Kennebec Journal
April 20, 2012
AUGUSTA – Johnny Rocket, "Just Larry" the clown, a flying trapeze act, a ballerina on horseback, Ringmaster Peter Sturgis, and other big top performers will be at the 60th annual Kora Shrine Circus at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday.
But not Nosey the elephant.
Neither Nosey, nor any other elephants, will be part of this year's circus -- a major fundraiser for the Shriners fraternal organization -- after they were denied entry by state officials because they hadn't had a recent-enough tuberculosis test required by the state of Maine.

The producer of the circus said elephants were en route to Maine for three Shriner circus shows in Lewiston, Portland and Augusta when the order to stop was made
The producer of the circus said elephants were en route to Maine for three Shriner circus shows in Lewiston, Portland and Augusta when the order to stop was made.

"It's a bureaucratic nightmare," said Jim Hamid Jr., producer of Hamid Circus Inc., the firm providing the circus acts for the Shriners. "I've never had anything (like this happen) before. And we've been in the business 82 years."

Hamid said the specific type of TB test required by Maine was previously administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the USDA no longer uses it.

"You can't get it done anymore," he said of the test. "So by administering this rule, Maine is saying no more elephants are allowed in the state."
read more:
http://www.pressherald.com/life/circus-shows-must-go-on-without-elephants_2013-04-20.html