People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been condemning and fighting against animal captivity, particularly in circuses. Most circuses are performing animal shows where tamed animals are forced to learn tricks and travel with the troupe. To be in captivity while under harsh trainings can be detrimental to both physical and mental health of animals. Besides, this is not the lifestyle that they’re supposed to live with. For over 30 years, PETA has been appealing for the freedom of animal circuses. As a response to this appeal, Nabisco decided to redesign its Barnum’s Animals Crackers packaging. After 116 years of captivity, the animals on the packaging are finally set free.
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Barnum’s Animals Crackers were first introduced by Nabisco in 1902. It comes in a classic red box packaging containing small crackers in the shape of animals. The product is associated with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus which was very popular for its animal shows. To pay tribute to iconic circus company, the Barnum’s Animals Crackers packaging featured circus animals such as lions, bears, gorillas, and elephants confined in separate cages. Furthermore, each animal is shown with their young offspring as they live the life of captivity.
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In 2016, PETA wrote a letter to Nabisco’s parent company Mondelez to liberate the caged animals on the packaging. And on August 2018, the snack company finally agreed to redesign the packaging. The new red package shows the previously caged animals roaming free in their natural habitat.
After 116 years of captivity, animal crackers have been freed from their cages. from r/pics
PETA later responded by announcing their appreciation and gratitude to the snack company through this tweet:
Big victories can come in small packages!
THANK YOU, Nabisco ??? After working with PETA, their new box for Barnum’s Animals Crackers perfectly reflects that our society no longer tolerates the caging and chaining of animals for the circus. https://t.co/TZfQDPTand pic.twitter.com/5L9i8W1DMq
— PETA (@peta) August 21, 2018
Big victories can come in small packages indeed. For more than 30 years, PETA’s advocacy to free wild animals from circuses has finally paid off. In May 2017, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed its final show to a sold-out crowd. After 146 years of operation, the iconic circus finally conceded the battle against animal rights groups and announced permanent closure. This was a huge success for PETA. But the fight wasn’t over yet until the animals on the Barnum’s Animals Crackers packaging are also set free. And PETA’s mission was accomplished when Mondel?z granted their request.
“When PETA reached out about Barnum’s, we saw this as another great opportunity to continue to keep this brand modern and contemporary,” said Jason Levine, Mondel?z North America’s chief marketing officer. “PETA is celebrating this redesign just as we’ve celebrated the closure of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and an end to the use of wild animals in many other circuses.”
Nabisco finally freed the animals from their cages on this new Barnum’s Animals Crackers packaging
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