Central Florida activists are now fighting to get a local elephant out of her cage and into a sanctuary, just like the recently-retired Ringling Bros. elephants.

  • Nosey the elephant is at a petting zoo in Kissimmee
  • Animal activists say Nosey is being mistreated
  • FWC says Nosey is OK, although there have been citations over the years

Nosey the elephant is 34 years old. Her owners say she loves eating hay and posing for pictures. For Cathalina Liebel, Nosey the elephant is like family.

“I actually learned to walk holding her trunk. I held her trunk, took my first steps… I can’t make this up,” Cathalina said.

Nosey and her circus family travel all over. Right now she is at a petting zoo behind the Gator Motel along U.S. 192 in Kissimmee, where she gives rides. But some believe Nosey should be free.

Kissimmee resident Malinda Burian went from starting a petition online called “Save Nosey the Elephant,” to protesting on the streets.

“Let’s put you in a cage. I wanna ride on your back then, $5,” Burian said. Protesters like her claim Nosey is mistreated.

The United States Department of Agriculture said they don’t have any open investigations into Nosey’s license at the moment. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it has conducted several unannounced inspections, the most recent one being two weeks ago.

FWC said Nosey was deemed to be in good physical condition.

However, through the years the Liebels have received a number of citations for things like rusted metal bars and overgrown toenails.

“Citations are small things like a little bit of rust on an outer perimeter fence, not even where she is,” Cathalina explained. “It’s just a small thing that the inspector sees. It’s not really a problem but they would like to have fixed in the future.”

In 2011, the Leibels were fined $7,500 by the USDA for violating the Animal Welfare Act with regard to Nosey.

Nonetheless animal activists say Nosey deserves better. “So not only is it animal cruelty, it’s just immoral,” said protester Kai Rivers.

This is not the first time protesters have rallied for Nosey.

A group of activists protested in Port Richey, Pasco County back in January. They say Nosey is old, sick and mistreated. Nosey's owner, Hugo Leibel, said Nosey was an orphan the family had raised -- and Leibel was used to protesters.

Meanwhile, after 145 years, the Ringling Brothers elephants performed their last act Sunday.

The elephants of the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed for the final time in Providence, Rhode Island. The elephants will retire to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk County.