Must a New Show Go On?

Ringling Bros. announced that its performing elephants will “retire” this May to a “conservation” center 18 months earlier than planned. In its announcement, Ringling Bros., and its parent company, Feld Entertainment, are parading around the buzzwords “conservation” and “retirement” like a new trick-pony. Of course we are greatly relieved that these elephants will no longer have to endure their most brutal and barbaric lives on the road as props in a travelling circus. However, we are deeply concerned that their exploitation is set to continue at the so-called ” Center for Elephant Conservation.”

Why earlier than planned? The public’s burgeoning awareness of, and intolerance for, such overt abuse of elephants is clearly a factor. Yet Ringling Bros. also seems to be diverting their elephants to exploit a new, and potentially lucrative era of commercial opportunity at Feld Entertainment’s Center for Elephant Conservation, using the “conservation” business model, which would be great if only it were real.

But, even if captive facilities were successful in breeding elephants, it still would not contribute to the conservation of the species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)/SSC Specialist Group for African elephants has stated that captive breeding makes no effective contribution to conservation. Neither of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species entries for Asian or African elephants lists captive breeding as necessary conservation measures.

So, take note that none of these elephants supposedly held for conservation will be part of a viable conservation effort in the wild. Zoos are merely attempting to restock captive facilities with elephants who are dying out faster than they can successfully reproduce in these unnatural and unhealthy facilities, and Feld Entertainment is taking advantage of a business opportunity that has nothing to do with a generosity of spirit toward its elephants. This is still exploitation for profit using the public display of elephants – nothing “conservational” about it.

So what about its talk of “retirement” in Florida? The word evokes relaxing images of the elephant-equivalent of tropical drinks, lounge chairs, and plenty of recreational activities. Those who truly care about elephants would be thrilled if they were going to a real elephant sanctuary. However, Feld Entertainment’s Center for Elephant Conservation has been a very questionable place. It appears that two of their elephants are currently on breeding loans to other zoos. The reality of the situation is that the elephants under their care are destined for lives of invasive research, many more hours in chains, and a new kind of exploitation – such as being abnormally inseminated (or the like) through multiple invasive procedures – ripped away from family members and moved around like chess pieces. This is more than starkly different from what most of us would consider “retirement.” Please, let’s not tell these already beleaguered elephants that a new show must go on.

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