In 2024, an elephant named Viola briefly escaped a traveling circus in Butte, Montana, wandering through traffic and standing still on a stranger’s lawn—just long enough, it seemed, to savor a moment of freedom. It wasn’t her first escape. Viola has tried to flee the circus at least three times. And now, she’s been forced to perform again—this time in Indianapolis, alongside another elephant named Kelly, both under threat of pain from sharp steel bullhooks.

This happened right here, at the Murat Shrine Circus, in apparent violation of Indianapolis-Marion County’s own law banning devices that cause or threaten to cause pain and injury to animals. Humane World for Animals has video evidence, and have asked law enforcement to investigate. But that’s not enough. We can’t allow another generation of animals to suffer under the illusion that this is entertainment.

Viola and Kelly were stolen from the wild as babies. In nature, elephants roam for miles each day, bonded deeply to their herds. In circuses, they are kept in chains, prodded with weapons, and forced to perform unnatural tricks out of fear. These are not youthful, healthy animals—Viola and Kelly are elderly. Both have escaped before. Their bodies are likely aching from decades of captivity, but their spirit still fights for freedom.

Meanwhile, circuses like Ringling Bros., Cirque du Soleil, and UniverSoul have shown that thrilling performances don’t require the abuse of wild animals. There is simply no excuse for this anymore.

We call on the Indianapolis City-County Council to pass a complete ban on traveling wild animal acts, and on the Murat Shriners to remove animals from their circus program permanently. Indianapolis should not be a city where abuse hides behind applause. Let’s stand up for compassion—and finally give Viola and Kelly the dignity they’ve been denied for decades.

Sign now if you believe Indianapolis should no longer host circuses that exploit wild animals.