"She has been healthy and has never had any serious illness," Hyman said.
Animal Defenders International were not the only ones upset with the treatment of the pachyderm.
On Tuesday, officials with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, sent a letter to Ontario Mayor Paul Leon asking for the city to get involved in the matter. City officials deferred comments to the Inland Valley Humane Society, which observed the transfer at Ontario on Monday and have been on site daily for inspections.
Animal Defenders International officials said they have asked for the removal of Sarah, who has been with the show for 40 years, so that she can be properly treated.
Rossell also raised concerns about the ongoing issues surrounding the elephant, referring to a citation the circus received from the USDA when it was in Colorado.
"She needs to get pulled off the road to get adequate care," Rossell said.
Acknowledging the citation, Hyman described the conflict believe it is a "difference of veterinarian opinion."
"Sarah has a discharge in her urine once in a while," she said.
Ringling Bros. officials have been aware of the issue since 1997.
Veterinarians have conducted various testing, but USDA officials feel "we have not done enough," Hyman said.
Brian French, who manages the elephants for Ringling Bros., said Sarah has not displayed any signs of problems since her fall and only suffered superficial abrasions.
Animal advocates said they oppose the use of the elephants in the circus because of the stress associated with the confinement of traveling, Rossell said.
"The only time they have access to move around is the walk to the arena and when they are performing," he said.
On Tuesday afternoon, handlers offered a glimpse into their treatment of the animals.
"We work with elephants and spend a lot of time with them, and they build relationships with us," said French, who is the fourth generation in his family to work with elephants.
As part of their daily routine, elephants are washed and given pedicures. It takes at least two handlers nearly 30 minutes to scrub the skin and feet of the elephants.
Anywhere from three to four handlers supervise the elephants, and two handlers watch them overnight, he said.
Because Sarah is one of the two oldest on this show, her presence on stage is limited. She performs five to six minutes during the show, which lasts more than two hours, French said.
Her routine essentially involves standing up on a pedestal, he said.
"She's kind of quiet but very personable and loves to be around people," French said.
Photo Gallery: Elephants
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