Ringling circus to retire elephants early

“Our company and our family’s commitment to save the majestic Asian elephant will continue through our breeding program, research and conservation efforts at the Center”, said Alana Feld, executive vice president of Feld Entertainment. When the decision was initially announced last year, Feld Entertainment called the move an “unprecedented change” in its 145-year old circus.

The Ringling announcement comes after years of protests from animal rights organizations who’ve long accused the circus of mistreating the elephants (a charge circus management denies).

Last March, Feld Entertainment said the 13 Asian elephants used in its traveling shows would be phased out by 2018. “There’s a lot of logistical planning to do to bring 11 elephants home, and we really just finished consolidating our information more quickly than we had anticipated”, says Janice Aria, director of the conservation center.

For now, if you want to see elephants in a circus, the Shrine Circus is in town this weekend at Cedar Park Center.

Feld Entertainment CEO Kenneth Feld, for his part, said “this decision was not easy, but it is in the best interest of our company, our elephants and our customers”.

The 11 touring elephants will join the rest of the herd at a conservation center in central Florida.

After more than three decades of undercover investigations and protests by Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and other animal activists, many cities have passed “anti-circus” and “anti-elephant” ordinances, which have made it increasingly more hard for Ringling Bros. The new venture would mean that Disney would have full control of the shows, as well as Ringling Brothers.

The Ringling Bros.’ treatment of elephants has also come under scrutiny, according to CNN.

Researchers think they have an explanation, and it could eventually lead to new ways to protect people from cancer. Those animals, as well as human performers, will fill the gap left by the elephants leaving the stage. Scientists also use Ringling elephants to study the species and to research why elephants suffer cancer so rarely.