Great European Circus

8980 Ogleby Creek Rd.
Myakka City, FL 34251
USDA License #58-C-0243

Bela Tabak has failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Tabak for failure to provide proper handling, veterinary care, environmental enhancement, adequate shelter from the elements, adequate enclosures, and clean water. Tabak was videotaped beating a baby elephant during a September 17, 1994, performance in Lebanon, Ore. The 15-month-old elephant collapsed, screaming and bleeding. Tabak pleaded no contest to animal abuse charges brought by local authorities. The USDA suspended Tabak’s license for 60 days, and he is prohibited from working with elephants for five years. Tabak has toured as the Great European Circus and the Royal American Circus, as well as with the now-defunct King Royal Circus. Contact PETA for documentation.

Animals used in recent acts: dogs and birds.

November 28, 2000: The USDA cited Tabak for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. The inspector wrote, "Two young yaks are thin, and their fur is matted and dirty. … The bison is thin. … The hooves of most yaks are overgrown and deviated. … There were no records after March of the every-three-month dewormings stipulated in the written Program of Veterinary Care."

Tabak was cited for improper handling. The inspector wrote, "The halter on one young yak is growing too tight and needs to be adjusted or removed tomorrow."
Tabak was cited for failure to provide adequate shelter for the bison and two yaks.

Tabak was cited for failure to maintain records. The inspector wrote, "There were no records of acquisition available for the three llamas used for touring … or for the new camel."

February 25, 2000: The USDA cited Tabak for failure to have a current veterinary care program.

December 28, 1999: The USDA issued Tabak an official letter of warning for lack of adequate shelter for hooved animals and an inadequate enclosure for a buffalo.

During an inspection, the USDA cited Tabak for failure to provide adequate shelter to seven llamas and two camels. Tabak was cited previously for this inadequacy on January 29, 1997.

Tabak was cited for inadequate structures. A buffalo roamed throughout the yard, which was cluttered with construction and transport materials, debris, and vehicles that could be dangerous to her. Tabak was cited previously for the same inadequacy on January 29, 1997.

Tabak was cited for failure to provide adequate veterinary care to a buffalo with hooves that were overgrown and deviating medially.

Tabak was cited for failure to provide a transport enclosure with sufficient space. The inspector wrote, "The travel trailer used to transport the trained buffalo has a wood compartment about 2 feet wide for her. The buffalo looks like she is about 400 pounds and 4 feet high. She is already wider than the compartment in the truck. She needs to be transported in a space that is large enough to let her be comfortable."

Tabak was cited for failure to maintain records. The inspector wrote, "There was no record of the death of one llama, which reportedly took place while on tour this year. There was also no record of acquisition on the two camels."

September 30, 1999: The USDA attempted an inspection. No one was on the premises, and the circus failed to supply the required itinerary.

February 18, 1999: The USDA attempted an inspection. The circus was on tour and had failed to supply the required itinerary.

August 12, 1998: The USDA cited Tabak for failing to provide adequate veterinary care because a 9-month-old celebes monkey was found dead in his enclosure.

February 11, 1998: A USDA inspector cited Tabak for failing to provide a monkey enclosure with enough light for routine cleaning and inspection of the animal.

February 10, 1998: The USDA attempted an inspection. The circus was on tour and had failed to supply the required itinerary.

January 29, 1997: A USDA inspector cited Tabak for failure to provide proper shelter and an adequate enclosure for a llama who is continually tethered. The llama was also not given sufficient amounts of fresh, clean water.

Tabak was cited for failure to provide adequate shelter for a primate. A macaque was housed continually outdoors in temperatures that dropped below 45 degrees without supplemental heat.

Tabak was cited for failure to provide an environmental enhancement plan for a primate. The inspector wrote, "This animal is singly housed and has displayed some aggression toward the licensee. … Also, it has exhibited the following abnormal/stereotyped behaviors during the period of inspection: head-tossing, bar-chewing, self-biting, eye-poking. This primate will require special attention and special measures above and beyond the norm for these situations to address its social needs and abnormal behaviors."

The USDA cited Tabak for failure to provide clean and sanitary conditions for the primate. The inspection report stated, "The interior of the macaque’s cage, including a mounted wooden nest box, cannot and has not been properly cleaned and sanitized because the licensee is uncomfortable returning the macaque to the cage after removal. He is concerned about being bitten. The inadequate handling capabilities have thus interfered with proper sanitation methods."

Tabak was cited for failure to properly handle the primate. The inspection report stated, "[T]he licensee hosed this animal directly with a water hose to clean some soft stool off its body, causing significant distress and furious self-biting."

Tabak was cited for failure to provide a veterinary care program.

June 13, 1996: The USDA settled abuse charges for the September 17, 1994, beating of a baby elephant. Tabak’s exhibitor license was suspended for 60 days. A $10,000 civil penalty was suspended, and Tabak was ordered not to handle elephants for five years. Tabak was touring with King Royal Circus at the time of the beating, and the circus agreed to pay an $8,000 civil penalty in connection with the incident.

May 19, 1995: Tabak entered a plea of "no contest" and was ordered to pay a $500 fine for the charge of animal abuse in the second degree in the Lebanon Municipal Court. Tabak beat a baby elephant named Mickey in Lebanon, Ore., during and immediately after a performance on September 17, 1994.

September 17, 1994: While touring with King Royal Circus, Tabak used a bullhook to beat a 15-month-old baby elephant named Mickey during and after a performance. According to witnesses and videotaped documentation, Mickey collapsed screaming and bleeding. One spectator stated, "I have never heard a scream in my life like the scream that came out of that baby elephant." The trainer pulled the elephant out of the tent and "got it down on the ground again. It was screaming and trying to crawl away on its hands and knees like a human being."

The September 20, 1994, edition of The Oregonian reported, "Tabak defended his use of the ankus [bullhook], which he said is standard throughout the industry. ‘If they are not sharp, they just scratch the skin and the elephant does not respond at all.’"

Tabak was arrested and charged with animal abuse.

For more information, contact:

PETA
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-622-7382

Back to Top