8/5/26 - Betty Is Still Being Exploited at Wilstem Wildlife Park
4 hours ago
1 min read
Betty has endured decades of circus exploitation. She is elderly and lame, and the USDA documented that she received ineffective care and that being forced to give rides caused additional harm.
Yet Betty was not retired to sanctuary. Brett Carden put her at Wilstem Wildlife Park in Indiana, where she is now being used for paid tourist encounters involving touching, photographs, bathing, feeding, and close interaction with visitors.
Betty is not alone. Wilstem is also using Janice, Cindy, and Vickie, three other elderly elephants who spent decades performing in circuses.
These elephants have given enough. They should not spend the remainder of their lives being used as props and profit centers.
CWI is calling on Wilstem to end all elephant encounters and publicly support the permanent retirement of Betty, Janice, Cindy, and Vickie to an accredited elephant sanctuary.
We recently learned that Patty, an elderly elephant held at Two Tails Ranch in Florida, has died. According to an official incident report, she was approximately 60 years old.
Patty died without ever reaching sanctuary.
Her death is another painful reminder that elderly elephants do not have unlimited time. Betty, Vickie, Cindy, and Janice have already lost decades to circus exploitation. They should not lose whatever time they have left to more performances, photographs, baths, and paid encounters.
Please take action now and help us keep fighting until they are safe.
