The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus is accelerating its phaseout of elephant acts, announcing that it will retire all of its touring elephants by May. Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and Born Free Foundation, said the decision showed that the public no longer accepts performances by wild animals. “The use of wild animals in circuses is cruel and demeaning and I think the writing is on the wall for this practice,” Roberts said. “The public appetite for seeing this is clearly dwindling. Forcing elephants to perform in multiple cities, chaining them up on long train rides, is cruel and causes premature death. This is the beginning of the end for elephants in circuses; other operators will have to follow suit.”
Link: The Guardian