City Council Bans Bullhook Use on Elephants

The L.A. City Council unanimously voted Wednesday to ban the use of bullhooks on circus elephants.

Circus animal trainers use bullhooks, or ankus, to train elephants and keep them under control.

Councilmember Paul Koretz explained that the tools used on elephants, which have sharp spikes attached to them, are extremely painful and dangerous

Under the new measure, circuses will have three years to adjust their elephant-handling routines, or to remove the animals from their shows.

The measure also bans the use of baseball bats, ax handles and pitchforks as instruments to control elephants.

The council's decision makes L.A. the first major U.S. city to implement a ban on bullhooks.