Ringling Bros. Elephant Abuse VIDEO: Employees Caught On Tape Beating Animals

PETA has released a new video documenting what the animal rights organization deems abuse of elephants by workers for Ringling Bros. circus. The video contains footage of "beating, whipping and hooking," according to PETA. Much of the footage was captured backstage before the animals entered the ring to perform by an undercover worker using a secret camera. More from the New York Daily News:

The undercover PETA employee scored a job with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and traveled with the circus as it toured seven states, a spokesman said.

Footage was shot between January and June, the animal rights organization said, and included a stint at Madison Square Garden.

"He witnessed these elephants being beaten for no apparent reason," said Daphna Nachminovitch, PETA's vice president for cruelty investigations, who described the abuse as "consistent" and "routine."