APNewsBreak: Ringling circus elephants to retire in May

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By TAMARA LUSH

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is ending its elephant acts a year and a half early, and will retire all of its touring elephants in May.

The circus's parent company, Feld Entertainment, told The Associated Press exclusively that all of the iconic elephants will be permanently retired to the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida. There are 11 elephants on tour with the circus.

"They'll be joining the rest of the herd," said Alana Feld, Ringling's executive vice president and show producer, who is also part of the family that owns Feld Entertainment. Feld owns the largest herd of Asian elephants in North America. In addition to those still touring, there are 29 elephants on the property now, and two additional animals are on breeding loans to zoos, Feld said.

It costs about $65,000 yearly to care for each elephant, she said, and the company had to build new structures to house the retiring elephants at the center, located between Orlando and Tampa.

FULL story at link.


In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 photo, Asian elephants belonging to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, are lead from their enclosure to a rehearsal at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. The circus's parent company, Feld Entertainment, told The Associated Press exclusively that all of the iconic elephants will be permanently retired to the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3e949d69a1354a2e83a5e5293f3fce93/apnewsbreak-ringling-circus-elephants-retire-may

[JudyM]

1. Great news! Worth waking up for.

About freakin time, but so wonderful. Thanks to PETA and other activists who tirelessly protested and drew public attention to the outrageous treatment of these poor animals.

[HERVEPA]

2. Exactly what Judy said.

You anti-PETA folks can at least thank them for this I hope.

[swilton]

13. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Earth_First]

15. lol @ PETA...

PETA can kiss my @ss:

[trillion]

19. Because you are all for elephant abuse?

[Earth_First]

20. Yep.

You got it!

[nuxvomica]

3. Hooray!

I strongly recommend anyone who is interested in elephants view An Apology to Elephants. Here's the trailer:

I remember seeing elephants in the circus when I was a child and noted their constant head swaying, something I thought of as the signature behavior of these magnificent creatures. Not till I saw the documentary did I know that was a sign of great stress, a compensation for their inability to move. I hope they'll have plenty of space to roam now.

[greymattermom]

4. 200 acres?

That's not much land for elephants.

[bklyncowgirl]

5. They'll require supplemental feeding but no big deal.

These elephants will no doubt have good sized paddocks. Probably bigger than those in most zoos. Compared to living on the road and performing it'll be elephant heaven.

[Marrah_G]

11. Compared to the life they have it's a massive upgrade

[marble falls]

6. Good news. How do we be sure they don't end up in other circuses?

[Sunlei]

28. Or used as breeding stock and offspring sold to countries without any humane regulations.

many tiny zoos in countries like china buy elephants from somewhere that breeds. elephant 'shows' are a main attraction for the local population at 'zoos' like the Nanning zoo. They even let audience kids sit on them for pictures.

Heres a link about Nanning zoos pitiful sad "elephant show" with pictures.

http://www.snapshotjourneys.com/nanning-zoo-china-attractions.html

[chernabog]

7. This is great news.

Now on to all the other animals that they torture on a daily basis.

[restorefreedom]

8. sweet lives to them now

they deserve it. sorry for the ones who lived and died in brutal captivity

[Paladin]

9. Outstanding. (nt)

[Marrah_G]

10. I'm glad.

Maybe the creatures can find some peace in their later years.

[swilton]

12. Hip Hip Hoorah!

It's about time this nonsense was ended!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

14. My famly supports - The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

http://elephants.com/

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

Aerial View of SanctuaryThe Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, is the nation's largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered elephants. It is a non-profit organization, licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and accredited by the Association of Sanctuaries, designed specifically for old, sick or needy elephants who have been retired from zoos and circuses. Utilizing more than 2700 acres, it provides three separate and protected, natural-habitat environments for Asian and African elephants. Our residents are not required to perform or entertain for the public; instead, they are encouraged to live like elephants.

[forest444]

17. Thank you for sharing this.

This deserves a thread of its own, SoLeftIAmRight.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

22. this is a must see

http://www.wimp.com/elephantsreunited/

[forest444]

27. Beyond belief.

The single most pathetic thing I've ever heard from anyone is this one I've heard more than once:

"no one's ever proven that animals have feelings."

"Well," I said. "I think you've just proven you don't."

Thanks again for these beautiful links, SoLeftIAmRight.

[Number9Dream]

31. "Beyond Words" by Carl Safina... a great read

http://carlsafina.org/book/beyond-words-what-animals-think-and-feel/

Touching and interesting sections on elephants, wolves, and killer whales.

[hedda_foil]

30. Stunning

Just stunning.

[Judi Lynn]

37. Almost unbearably beautiful. You have to love Solomon, as well, who cared for Shirley

for so long, and was the one who went on the journey to her new home, to meet Jenny, and removed her chains for her.

I hope he got to see this video as soon as it was finished. That should make him feel so much better about what happened to his friend after they were separated.

Don't know when I have seen a video this moving, SoLeftIAmRight. Thank you.

[trillion]

18. Awesome! I had never heard of it.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

23. This is a must see

http://www.wimp.com/elephantsreunited/

[hamsterjill]

24. +1

We've been trying for years to get the San Antonio Zoo to let "Lucky", a 50-year old elephant that is alone in a small enclosure at the SA zoo to The Elephant Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is willing to take her, but the zoo won't let her go.

I am glad that the circus elephants are getting a better life!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

25. This is a must see

http://www.wimp.com/elephantsreunited/

[hamsterjill]

26. It is!

I've seen it in the past. It's awesome!

[Judi Lynn]

34. Wonderful undertaking by special people, for wonderful creatures.

Here's the link to their livecam, where one can see these sweeties every day during daylight hours, when they are anywhere near the cameras:

http://www.elephants.com/elecam/

Your family has a very deep good streak.

[trillion]

16. Good! About time.

[Sunlei]

21. 200 acres is not enough space. Is there any breeding and sales from the "Feld Entertainment Corp"?

[catbyte]

29. Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the TB outbreak amongst the poor elephants.

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. good

[joanbarnes]

33. Now to get Seaworld to end Orca shows.....

[niyad]

36. that, too.

[niyad]

35. wayyyyyyyy past time.

[davidpdx]

38. I believe there was a Change.org petition at one point for this

I'm glad they finally are retiring them all.