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Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus to eliminate elephant acts (w/video)

 
In this March 19, 2013 file photo, a performer waves as elephants with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show, pause for a photo opportunity in front of the Capitol in Washington, on their way to the Verizon Center, to promote the show coming to town. [Associated Press]
In this March 19, 2013 file photo, a performer waves as elephants with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show, pause for a photo opportunity in front of the Capitol in Washington, on their way to the Verizon Center, to promote the show coming to town. [Associated Press]
Published March 6, 2015

Power to the pachyderms and the people who love them. • Citing pervasive public outcry against the use of elephants in its shows, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus promised on Thursday that it will stop making its biggest stars — literally and figuratively — tour and perform for the masses. • Dumbo is leaving the Big Top. • "This decision was not easy, but it is in the best interest of our company, our elephants and our customers," said Kenneth Feld, president of the Palmetto-based Feld Entertainment, parent company of Ringling Bros. • Thirteen out of the company's 43 elephants will continue to tour with the 145-year-old "Greatest Show on Earth" until 2018, when those animals, along with most of their performing brethren, will retire to the company's Center for Elephant Conservation, located in Central Florida. • Animal rights activists were mostly elated. They have protested for decades that elephants are emotion-rich roamers not suited for touring and performing. "Wild animals have never signed a contract to perform stupid human tricks in circuses," said the Florida Voices for Animals in a statement. "What can the public learn about elephants that wear a tutu and pivot around a stool on a front leg?"

Life on a Florida farm isn't ideal, they say, but it's a good start.

"It's better than where they are now," said Nash McCutchen, marketing coordinator at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. She still has concerns — "elephants are especially sensitive beings" — but like many animal rights advocates, McCutchen and her agency "applaud a well-established company taking the step toward ending animal exploitation in entertainment."

The announcement also raised the question of whether Ringling's move will put pressure on SeaWorld Entertainment to act on equally fervent concerns about the use of killer whales — especially front-and-center icon Shamu — at its theme parks.

Robb Alvey, an industry analyst who runs the popular Theme Park Review website, believes that the issues here are ultimately different — apples and oranges, elephants and orcas — and he for one doesn't see a change coming at SeaWorld as a result of Thursday's news.

"There has been a past history of abuse of animals in circuses," Alvey says. Despite the backlash from 2013 documentary Blackfish — which focused on killer whales in captivity, specifically Tilikum, the bull orca who killed trainer Dawn Brancheau — SeaWorld stresses conservation and animal rehabilitation.

Still, SeaWorld has struggled of late, losing attendance and revenue, much of those problems attributed to damaging PR at the hands of animal rights groups.

A year ago, Feld Entertainment, which owns such popular and profitable franchises as Disney on Ice, Monster Jam and Nuclear Cowboyz, didn't seem intent on changing policy, either.

In 2014, Feld Entertainment won $25.2 million in settlements from several animal rights groups who accused the circus of mistreating elephants.

At one point, a judge found a former Ringling barn helper to be lacking credibility as a whistle blower — or "essentially a paid plaintiff."

Feld was vindicated after a 14-year legal battle.

Nevertheless, one year later, the elephants are preparing to rumble out of the Big Top.

"We're always changing and we're always learning," Kenneth Feld told the Associated Press.

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Animal rights activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has protested Ringling's use of elephants in its live shows for 35 years. While PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk also rah-rah-ed the decision — "pop the champagne corks" — she urged Ringling to make the change immediately: "If the decision is serious, then the circus needs to do it now."

That, however, probably isn't going to happen

Feld Entertainment owns the largest herd of African elephants in North America. New retirement housing will have to be built at the Center for Elephant Conservation, which spreads out over 200 rural acres between Tampa and Orlando.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Contact Sean Daly at sdaly@tampabay.com. Follow @seandalypoplife.