[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13262-13263]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM AND 
                BAILEY CENTER FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2010

  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the 15th Anniversary of 
the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant 
Conservation (CEC). This state of the art facility is located on 200 
acres in Polk County, Florida--within the 12th Congressional District, 
which I have the honor of representing.
  The Ringling Bros. CEC is a facility dedicated to the research, 
reproduction, and retirement of Asian elephants. Since this facility 
opened in 1995, it has tirelessly worked to fulfill its mission to 
``preserve and sustain the endangered Asian elephant.''
  In addition to the important care and research performed at the 
Ringling Bros. CEC, it is also home to the most successful Asian 
elephant breeding program in the Western Hemisphere. In fact, their 
most recent calf was just born on April 3, 2010, and is appropriately 
named April. This calf represents the 23rd Asian elephant birth at the 
CEC. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted the Ringling Bros. CEC 
with F2 status in 2007, which essentially designates the elephants as a 
self sustaining herd as a result of successful reproduction.
  While the ivory trade remains a threat to the Asian elephants, a loss 
of habitat continues to plague elephant populations throughout south 
and southeast Asia. Estimates indicate that only about 30,000 Asian 
elephants live in the wild today. Conservation programs to protect this 
species are vital and must be supported throughout the world and 
Ringling Bros. has been among the leaders in advocating and supporting 
conservation of the Asian Elephant.
  I have had the honor of visiting the Ringling Bros. CEC and seeing--
first hand--the important work completed and the care provided to these 
elephants. The success of the Ringling Bros. CEC and the commitment 
Ringling Bros. maintains to saving Asian elephants has contributed 
greatly to conservation efforts throughout the world.
  I applaud the efforts of the Ringling Bros. CEC and their staff of 
trained professionals on the remarkable success of this important 
facility over the last 15 years. The progress they have made in growing 
the Asian elephant population is remarkable and I am proud that such 
amazing work is being done within the 12th Congressional District.

[[Page 13263]]

  I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
honoring the Ringling Bros. CEC on their 15th anniversary and the 
contributions they have made to the conservation of the Asian elephant.

                          ____________________