Every single time the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus comes to our town in the past couple of years, my youngest daughter, who dearly loves elephants, has to go. She doesn't purchase a ticket she goes to hold a indicator in protest against the circus's use of animals. She and other individuals like her can now celebrate a victory. The Greatest Display on Earth has announced that they will phase out elephant acts by the year 2018.
"This decision was not quick, but it is in the most effective curiosity of our organization, our elephants and our clients," CEO Kenneth Feld explained in a press statement. Feld's 43 elephants, which form the biggest herd in North America, will retire to a 200-acre sanctuary in central Florida.
"There's been relatively of a mood shift among our customers," Executive Vice President Alana Feld told the AP.
Which is putting it mildly. Feld Entertainment, the circus's mother or father business, has spent many years fighting lawsuits and having to pay fines and settlements over the alleged mistreatment of animals. Animal rights groups are celebrating the decision.
(Picture credit: Amy n Rob)
