The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus would no longer feature performances by its famous traveling elephants by 2018. Feld Entertainment Inc., parent company of the traveling entertainers has announced plans to retire its 13 Asian elephants at the company’s Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida, which now protects a herd of 40 elephants.

According to Kenneth Feld, Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, the decision was for the best interest of the animals, the customers, and the company. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey intends to concentrate its efforts on elephant conservation programs instead. The elephant centre has achieved some success in its breeding programs. The traveling circus will continue to feature amazing acts by other animals including lions, tigers, dogs, camels and horses.

In 2000, animal welfare groups which include the Animal Welfare Institute, The Fund for Animals, APSCA, and the Animal Protection Institute filed a lawsuit against Feld Entertainment for ill-treatment of threatened Asian elephants. After the 14-year-old litigation, Ringling Bros. won the case in 2014 and was entitled to a settlement of $ 15.75 million from 12 involved parties.

An investigative report by the US Department of Agriculture in 2011 stated that the elephants were allegedly caged in train cars, chained most of the time, and restrained by an ankus, a stick used to prod elephants. The USDA fined Feld Entertainment $270,000 for these so-called Animal Welfare Act abuses from June 2007 to August 2011.

The Humane Society of the United States have expressed relentless commitment to fight mistreatment of circus elephants. The group is urging Feld Entertainment to use the settlement fund to prevent the slaughter of thousands of elephants hunted for their ivory. For more than 30 years, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been opposing Ringling Bros.’ use of circus elephants and has been spreading video presentations of mistreatment. PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk said that the elephants’ retirement has to take place soon if the circus company is really serious with its decision to end the use of these animals in circus acts. The group is advising the public to boycott circuses that utilize animals.

To contact the writer, email: jm_panganiban@hotmail.com

For more stories on the Ringling Circus Elephants:

Ringling Bros. Commitment

USDA and Feld Entertainment, Inc., Reach Settlement Agreement

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