May 23, 2017

On Sunday, May 21, the iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus gave its final performance at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The grand finale of the traveling circus, long billed as the “Greatest Show on Earth,” came after years of evolving cultural tastes, declining revenues, and increasing costs. The circus, famous for its numerous animal acts, had also come under increasing resistance from animal rights activists. The circus’s final three shows—played consecutively on Sunday with the space theme “Out of This World”—were sold out and streamed live over the Internet.

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson (in the multi-colored jacket) hosts the final performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on May 21, 2017, in Uniondale, New York. Credit: © Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Showman P. T. Barnum started the circus—also known for its live music, acrobats, clowns, contortionists, dancers, trapeze artists, trick riders, and the famed human cannonball—in 1871. The circus traveled by railroad from town to town, operating beneath tents that included the iconic “big top” for the largest acts. Barnum died in 1891, but the circus continued under the management of Barnum’s business partner, James Bailey, until his death in 1906.

Emotional performers embrace during the final staging of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on May 21, 2017, in Uniondale, New York. Credit: © Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

The Ringling brothers—who had run their own circus since 1884—purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907. The two circuses ran separately until 1919, when they combined to form the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus remained in the Ringling family until 1967, when Feld Entertainment bought the traveling show but kept the name.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus traveled by train—the last circus to do so—right up to the show’s final performances in May 2017. Credit: © Harvey Henkelman

The circus—which continued to travel by rail—retired its famous elephants in May 2016. The show continued to feature acts with camels, lions, snakes, and tigers, as well as numerous dog and horse performances. The human performers and crew of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will now disperse among other acts, circuses, and shows—or find different lines of work. The show’s remaining animals will retire to sanctuaries, zoos, or individual homes. Feld Entertainment had announced in January 2017 that this spring’s tour would be the show’s last.

Elephants last performed in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in May 2016. Credit: © Shuttertock

March 10, 2015

Last week, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced they will retire their performing elephants by 2018. The animals will then live at the company’s Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida. The 200-acre (80-hectare) center was established in 1995 and is a home for elephants to grow up and grow old.

After 145 years of featuring the animals in its “Greatest Show on Earth,” the company announced that it had taken this “unprecedented” decision to be able to focus its efforts on elephant conservation programs in North America and Sri Lanka. Critics noted the announcement came after years of scrutiny and criticism concerning the organization’s training and treatment of elephants while on tour, which can include traveling to over 100 cities in a year. Several cities banned shows with live elephants, which made Ringling Brothers tour schedule more complex.

Elephants performing at a Ringling Brothers show. Animal-rights activists have objected to the way in which elephants are housed and trained when traveling with the circus. Credit: © Shutterstock

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximas), the species of elephant featured in Ringling Brothers shows, is one of the largest animals on Earth, standing from 9 to 10 ½ feet (2.7 to 3.2 meters) tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms). Elephants are extremely strong, highly intelligent, and socially sensitive. People have tamed and trained them for thousands of years. Trained circus elephants can stand on their heads, lie down and roll over, dance, and perform many other tricks. According to Ringling Brothers circus, elephants can respond to some 60 verbal commands.

Hopefully, Ringling Brothers conservation center can help to increase the number of Asian elephants. There are only about 40,000 to 50,000 of this endangered species remaining in the wild. Since the 1860′s, the animal’s population has been halved. Threats to elephants’ survival include habitat loss, conflict with humans, and illegal wildlife trade, especially of ivory from elephant tusks. Wildlife experts agree that elephants are in great danger and need human protection to survive. A spokesman for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey stated of their Center for Elephant Conservation, “No other institution has done or is doing more to save this species from extinction.”

Other World Book articles:

• In the Company of Elephants (a Special report)
• Ringling brothers