Animal Rights received a big win upon the announcement of a landmark decision by the famed Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily Circus.
Ringling Brothers announced they will be fazing out their elephant entertainers as per the request of the public and their own fans.
Elephant entertainers have long been at the center of the fight for animal rights. The animals go through a grueling training process that often involves beatings with hooked sticks to encourage compliance. Additionaly, the elephants spend most of their time on the road, traveling 50 weeks of the year in cramped railroad cars.
Ringling Brothers has been touring for over 100 years and has featured several other large animals such as big cats and bears in the past.
“There’s been somewhat of a mood shift among our consumers,” said Alana Feld, the company’s executive vice president. “A lot of people aren’t comfortable with us touring with our elephants.”
