Exactly three years ago today, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced that in response to growing public concern over “how the animals are treated,” it would end elephant performances by 2018.
Since then, PETA hasn’t backed down, and the victories are piling up.
In 2016, after urging venues to refuse to host Cole Bros. Circus—whose exhibitors’ habitual violations of federal animal-welfare laws could fill a police blotter—the notorious circus went dark. It hasn’t put on a performance since.
Elephants, lions, tigers, & ALL other animals do NOT deserve to be beaten, caged, & forced to perform for the circus. #BoycottTheCircus
— PETA (@peta) May 12, 2015
In January 2017—after 36 years of PETA protests and documenting animals who were left to die, beaten, and much more—Ringling announced that it would close. The saddest show on Earth held its final performance a few months later.
BREAKING: After 36 years of protests, #RinglingBros Circus will shut down in May. Thank you to all who spoke out! https://t.co/sE9GNgC8gx pic.twitter.com/iVOUu7L4Pr
— PETA (@peta) January 15, 2017
Right on the heels of Ringling’s final show, the New York City Council prohibited all traveling circuses from bringing wild animals into the Big Apple. Residents had called and e-mailed their council members, urging them to pass the measure.
It's official. Wild and exotic animals will be banned from circuses in New York City. pic.twitter.com/Ha85wZAxGI
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) July 28, 2017
But New Yorkers weren’t the only ones to refuse such cruelty—both Latvia and Romania banned wild-animal acts, too. Just days after PETA Germany sent an urgent letter to the Latvian parliament (Saeima) and issued a news release, the parliament voted for a strict ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. Meanwhile, in Romania, circus owners could face criminal charges and a year in prison if they violate the country’s new ruling. Twenty-one EU countries now prohibit some or all wild-animal acts.
Times are changing. Wild animal acts are being banned all over the world. https://t.co/83kl5tGUdl pic.twitter.com/Vdn1y57k2z
— PETA (@peta) June 22, 2017
A few months later, notorious animal exhibitor and longtime PETA target Hawthorn Corporation folded after its license was canceled. The victory was achieved after years of PETA protests, $272,500 in penalties from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the deaths of dozens of tigers on its watch.
https://twitter.com/peta/status/936392657122848773
Most recently, the new owner of Kelly Miller Circus, James Kendrick Judkins, confirmed to PETA that there will be no exotic-animal acts in the circus going forward. Previous owner John Ringling North II (the last of the Ringlings still working with circuses) was forced to sell after circus sponsors and city officials were inundated with e-mails—thanks in large part to PETA’s efforts and those of our members and supporters—protesting his last tour, which included elephants and zebras.
Victory! After thousands of you spoke up, Kelly Miller Circus owner admits he would have to tour without animals https://t.co/J7EhNdA5PZ pic.twitter.com/cjrDSPb4YC
— PETA (@peta) October 31, 2017
Until all animals are freed from circuses—where they’re forced to perform tricks under the threat of being beaten, whipped, and prodded—PETA will continue to push for their liberation.
You Can Help These Animals, Too
These victories—including Ringling’s demise—wouldn’t have been possible without our members and supporters, who wrote letters or made phone calls to legislators, attended protests, and spread the word on social media. But other wild animals are still being held captive and tormented for cruel circus acts, and they need our help, too. Click the button below to speak up for them by urging venues to host only animal-free events: