US animal circus set to close
The Ringling circus receives tens of thousands of visitors every year.
One of America’s oldest circuses is set to close following pressure over its use of animals.
The Ringling and Barnum & Bailey circus was founded in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling brothers: Albert, August, Otto, Alfred T., Charles, John, and Henry.
In a statement, the company said it will close in May due to poor ticket sales, which had fallen even further since they removed elephants from the show.
“This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company,” said CEO Kenneth Feld.
“The circus and its people have continually been a source of inspiration and joy to my family and me, which is why this was such a tough business decision to make.”
The Ringling circus receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, but its use of animals has been criticised by animal rights activists.
The circus once employed more than 70 animals including horses, elephants and camels, which often travelled by train across the United States.
But legal pressure forced the circus to phase out all elephants from its show, and in 2016 they were sent to a conservation centre in Florida.
Welcoming news of the closure, campaign group Peta said: “As of May, the saddest show on earth for wild animals will end. Thirty-six years of PETA protests, of documenting animals left to die, beaten animals, and much more, has reduced attendance to the point of no return.
“All other animal circuses, roadside zoos, and wild animal exhibitors, including marine amusement parks like SeaWorld and the Miami Seaquarium, must take note: society has changed, eyes have been opened, people know now who these animals are, and we know it is wrong to capture and exploit them.”
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.
