Circus is retiring the elephant show that’s been part of their repertoire for 145 years.
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The elephants’ last show will be in Providence, Rhode Island, almost two years before the pachyderms’ expected retirement. “That’s history tonight there, ladies and gentlemen, true American icons”.
At the time, Feld Entertainment’s V.P of communications, Steve Payne, told NPR’s Jackie Northam that the family that controls the company “decided that removing the elephants from the circus units and bringing them to the Center for Elephant Conservation was in the best interest of the company and, most importantly, the elephants”.
This ends a tradition that has entertained audiences since circuses began in the US two centuries ago, but that in recent years has been challenged by animal rights activists. Ringling bowed to the pressure as state and local rules placed more restrictions on the circus’ use of exotic animals and the bullhook trainers use to control the animals.
“(It s) nothing more than a breeding facility, where elephants are chained for approximately 16 hours a day or more in concrete-floored barns and still beaten with bullhooks”, PETA s Arth said.
It won’t be getting rid of animals altogether however – the elephants’ final show also featured horses, lions, pigs, dogs and tigers.
The last 11 elephants touring will leave behind their enormous studded tiaras and start travelling to Ringling’s 80 hectare Centre for Elephant Conservation in central Florida.
“We love our girls”, he said.
Its herd of 40 Asian elephants, the largest in North America, will continue a breeding programme and be used in a paediatric cancer research project.
During Sunday’s show, the elephants paraded into the stage as they had for years, linked to each other trunk-to-tail. Last month, Sea World announced it would end live orca shows and breeding.
At least 17 countries have outlawed circus acts featuring wild animals, but the practice remains largely legal in the United States. Cirque du Soleil and theme parks such as Disney developed new shows for customers, without the use of live animals.
An elephant carried a performer holding an American flag then stood at attention as the song ended.
Feld said they have the most successful breeding program in North America and have determined they can accommodate the elephants in the space they have.
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In 2014, Feld Entertainment won more than 25 million U.S. dollars in settlements from animal rights groups, including the Humane Society, over unproven allegations of mistreated elephants. Performed their final act on Sunday.
