The once popular traveling circus, Ringling Bros., and Barnum & Bailey, performed for the last time on Sunday at the Nassau Coliseum in New York City. Dubbed as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” Ringling Bros. have been performing for the past 146 years.
This last performance marked an end to such an iconic group of entertainers that will surely be missed by the people who grew up watching its shows. However, for animal rights activists, this news is certainly a good one.
Battle with animal rights activists
One of the main reasons for the Ringling Bros.
shutting down is its declining ticket sales over the years. The ticket sales started declining after the removal of live performances by the elephants, which was the circus’ main attraction.
The Ringling Bros. had to remove the elephants after its long battle with the animal rights activists, which heavily protested the use of elephants and other animals such as horses, kangaroos and big cats just to name a few.
Associate director of campaigns for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Ashly Byrne told NBC News, “It is long overdue for this very cruel company to end their days.”
In addition, PETA is concerned where the animals will go after the Ringling Bros. last performance. The group said that the animals should go to reputable sanctuaries.
Where will the animals go after the show?
Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Bros., will not disclose where the animals will go after the show due to privacy concerns. However, the company did say that the animals owned by its presenters will remain with the owners.
Alexander Lacey, a trainer of big cats, will get to keep the huge felines and as for the other Tigers, it will go to establishments that specialize in Tigers.
Lacey said that there are a lot of misunderstandings on how the animals are treated. He wants to prove that there is a special bond between the animals and its trainers that other people just don’t understand.
Saying goodbye to the Ringling Bros
Ringling has performed in 30 shows since its announcement in January to shut down this month that included stops in Boston, Atlanta, Washington, and Philadelphia.
The circus’ closure will affect about 400 cast and crew members.
Ashley Vargas, a performer, said that she is proud to have become a part of such an iconic show and is looking forward to her future with her circus family.
What do you think of the Ringling Bros. ending its 146-year run? Were you able to watch its last performance? Write your thoughts in the comments section down below and don’t forget to like and share this article.
