Allegations about elephant mistreatment do not appear to have shaken corporate support for an upcoming Wii Ringling Brothers circus game.
Earlier today, we reported that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization is calling for the cancellation of Take-Two's upcoming game based on the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (the so-called Greatest Show on Earth).
Take-Two, a company that has weathered protests against Grand Theft Autos, Bully and Manhunt declined to address PETA's allegations that the Ringling Bros. circus violently mistreats its elephants, but backed the game: "As a matter of company policy, we don't comment on the business affairs of our licensors," the company's vice president of communications, Alan Lewis, told Kotaku. "We fully stand behind all of our products."
As for the circus, it has been attacked by PETA for these matters before.
"We vehemently disagree with PETA," Steve Payne, spokesperson for the circus' parent company, Feld Entertainment, told Kotaku. "We're proud of our animal care. The Asian elephant has been a symbol for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey for its 139 year history... the commitment to animal welfare and conservation for the endangered Asian elephant is something we do every day."
He pointed to the circus' Center for Conservation and its ability to pass government animal inspections "everywhere we go" as proof that PETA's criticism is wrong.
Payne said that his company is "excited" about Take-Two's upcoming game.
[PIC]