Photo from the Center for Elephant Conservation website
Elephants have long been the signature act at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
But something isn’t sitting right with audiences about these sensitive, intelligent and majestic creatures performing tricks for… well, peanuts. The public has cried out over the use of bullhooks, which Richmond has considered banning.
We’ve heard it here at Richmondmom each time the circus comes into town, and Ringling Bros. is hearing it too. Feld announced on March 5th (right before Legends comes to Richmond) that by 2018, the 12 elephants still used in the circus will retire and join over 40 elephants at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant for Conservation® in Florida. Ringling shows will still feature dogs, horses, camels, tigers and lions.
From the March 5 press release:
“This is the most significant change we have made since we founded the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in 1995. When we did so, we knew we would play a critical role in saving the endangered Asian elephant for future generations, given how few Asian elephants are left in the wild,” said Kenneth Feld, Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment. “Since then, we have had 26 elephant births. No other institution has done or is doing more to save this species from extinction, and that is something of which I and my family are extremely proud. This decision was not easy, but it is in the best interest of our company, our elephants and our customers,” he added.
The CEC is located on 200 acres of wilderness in central Florida, between Tampa and Orlando. Learn more about the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation here.
What do you think? Has the use of elephants prevented you from taking your family to the circus?
Will consider the circus after the elephants have been retired?
