APNewsBreak: Ringling circus elephants to retire in May
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
(29,242 posts)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
(6,107 posts)You anti-PETA folks can at least thank them for this I hope.
swilton
(5,069 posts)Earth_First
(14,910 posts)PETA can kiss my @ss:
trillion
(1,859 posts)Earth_First
(14,910 posts)You got it!
nuxvomica
(12,424 posts)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
(5,754 posts)That's not much land for elephants.
bklyncowgirl
(7,960 posts)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
(28,581 posts)marble falls
(57,081 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)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
(480 posts)Now on to all the other animals that they torture on a daily basis.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)they deserve it. sorry for the ones who lived and died in brutal captivity
Paladin
(28,257 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Maybe the creatures can find some peace in their later years.
swilton
(5,069 posts)It's about time this nonsense was ended!
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)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
(5,902 posts)This deserves a thread of its own, SoLeftIAmRight.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)forest444
(5,902 posts)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
(1,561 posts)Touching and interesting sections on elephants, wolves, and killer whales.
hedda_foil
(16,374 posts)Just stunning.
Judi Lynn
(160,530 posts)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
(1,859 posts)SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)hamsterjill
(15,220 posts)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
(4,883 posts)hamsterjill
(15,220 posts)I've seen it in the past. It's awesome!
Judi Lynn
(160,530 posts)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
(1,859 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)catbyte
(34,386 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)joanbarnes
(1,722 posts)niyad
(113,303 posts)niyad
(113,303 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I'm glad they finally are retiring them all.