Circus may skirt state if it bans elephant tool

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The circus might not come to town anymore.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is threatening to bypass P.T. Barnum's home state on future tours if Connecticut's Legislature passes a bill prohibiting the use of an elephant-herding tool known as a bullhook.

Animal rights activists say the hooks can injure elephants.

If it is passed and signed into law, Connecticut would be the first state to prohibit the steel tool, circus officials said.

"It is the proven, approved, time-tested, safe, humane tool for properly working with elephants," said Tom Albert, vice president for government affairs for Virginia-based Feld Entertainment Inc., parent company of Ringling Bros.

The circus will be in Hartford for four days beginning Wednesday, and officials invited lawmakers to visit the elephants and decide for themselves.