The Greatest Show on Earth ended a tradition of cruelty this week when the Feld family – that's the parent company for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus – announced elephants no longer have a place under the tent.
The Feld family sent out a press release to that effect Thursday, and NPR, the New York Times, and other news sources of interest to those of us with a shard of hope for the fourth estate remaining went what we in the industry like to call "bat shit crazy" talking about the elephants.
So, good for Feld. Better for the elephants.
But I'm going to go ahead and call bullshit on the idea they're doing it, as the Feld family so desperately wants us to tell you, because "no other institution has done or is doing more to save this species from extinction" or that "it is in the best interest of our company, our elephants and our customers.”
Well, I take that back: It's in the best interest of the company. The reality, as reported in the New York Times, is that local legislation, lawsuits and other financial nightmares have likely led Feld to this. Let me put it in perspective: The circus could no longer come to town because local laws banned anyone from treating animals the way Feld did. They had to change to survive, and believe me, it might feel warm and fuzzy, but this decision is not about Babar and Dumbo; it's about the bottom line. It's all fun and games to have an elephant as entertainment until it gets cost-prohibitive to do so.
But here's how the Feld Family hopes we'll spin the story:
“This is the most significant change we have made since we founded the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in 1995. When we did so, we knew we would play a critical role in saving the endangered Asian elephant for future generations, given how few Asian elephants are left in the wild,” said Kenneth Feld, Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment.
“Since then, we have had 26 elephant births," he continues, adding: "that is something of which I and my family are extremely proud."
Wow. Just wow. Don't buy it for a second. These animals are commodities to the circus, as are, I'd like to mention, the animals Feld will still continue to use as entertainment.
"The circus will continue to feature other extraordinary animal performers, including tigers, lions, horses, dogs and camels," the Feld Entertainment web site promises.
Rather than doing the right thing because it's the right thing, RIngling is caving to local laws and intense activism and removing elephants from "The Greatest Show on Earth."
As for the lions, tigers and camels? They're on their own.
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2015.