Its the end of an era for some very large four legged members of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.
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The last 11 performing elephants are being transported on Monday to the 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida owned by Ringling, which seems pretty swanky, but may not be the elephant nirvana it appears on the surface.
But despite their iconic place in the show, the use of elephants for circus performances has drawn criticism from animal rights activists the world over for decades.
In 2012 actor Alec Baldwin said, “It is hard for me to believe that anyone would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into show business, but for the elephants with Ringling Brothers, that’s exactly what happens”.
“Circus fans will still be able to see horses, lions, tigers, dogs, camels and others animals at The Greatest Show On Earth!”, the U.S. circus company said. “But two, let’s get the rest of them out of here, the rest of the animals suffer just as much”.
Ringling bowed to 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.
“Taking elephants out of the shows is only the first step”, said Rachel Mathews, PETA Foundation Capital Animal Law Enforcement counsel.
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Payne also told us skilled veterinarians consistently examine their health, and only one elephant has fallen ill with tuberculosis in the center’s care. In a statement, the Humane Society said, elephants in circuses are often “denied the stimulation and social relationships they’d experience in the wild”. And it’s uncertain if they will still be forced to perform.
