It's easy to take these kinds of things for granted. But sometimes we have to forgive ourselves for being naive. When I was a kid, I always looked forward to the special time of year when the circus came to town. It was always a memorable family outing. However, I vividly remember my brother pointing down in between our bleacher seats. He noticed something: there were elephants down there, they were in cages. When we're kids, it's easy for us to believe that the happy-go-lucky-appearing circus elephants have wonderful, rich lives as performers. As adults, we have to accept that animals aren't meant to live in cages, nor do they exist solely for our entertainment.
It took Ringling Brothers a little long to realize that, but fortunately they have made the choice to do the right thing. This week, the circus' Asian elephants gave their last performance and will retire in a 200-acre conservation center in Florida. After this, Ringling will no longer use elephants at all.
"It is a bittersweet decision, there is no question about that, but it is the best thing. And we felt this was the right time to do it," Kenneth Feld, chairman of the parent company that owns Ringling Brothers, said.
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