Asian elephants are an endangered species.
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In an effort to end elephant poaching in Africa, Kenyans organized the largest ivory burn to date Saturday, sending 105 tons of ivory up in flames.
Five elephants also performed for the last time on Sunday at a Ringling Brothers show in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
While the animals adjusted to performing and traveling with the circus and will adapt to the quieter activity of the conservation center, either way they’re not living the life they would want to lead, he said. Another case involved an elephant who died after being hit with a bullhook when he didn’t follow orders and leave a pond he was bathing in during free time between performances.
DeeAnn Reeder, an animal behaviorist at Bucknell University who has worked with elephants, said moving to a new place and developing new social groups will initially be stressful for the creatures, but the long-term benefits far outweigh any negatives.
Researchers, academics and conservationists study the elephants at the center, looking for ways to re-populate the Asian elephant, an endangered species. Feld Entertainment Inc., the circus’s parent company, announced the decision in March 2015, initially planning to retire their remaining touring elephants by 2018. It’s a big move in the direction of animal protection. The cost to care for each elephant, which stand up to 10 feet tall, weigh up to 11,000 pounds and eat up to 300 pounds of food a day, amounts to $65,000 annually.
Dozens of cities have banned the use of bullhooks – used to train elephants – and some states are considering such legislation.
After years of giant tricks and synchronized dances, the elephants at Ringling bros. We need the animals in our circus, they are ambassadors.
Animal lovers have also raised concerns about the psychological well-being of elephants forced to spend months on the road in tiny cages, and about the often brutal training methods Ringling Bros. uses to prepare young elephants for the circus.
“Taking elephants out of the shows is only the first step”, said Rachel Mathews, PETA Foundation Capital Animal Law Enforcement counsel.
It’s all part of a huge shift in USA attitudes toward animal entertainment – with SeaWorld phasing out its killer whale shows at its amusement parks weeks ago.
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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Elephants will perform for the last time at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday.
