The Ringling Brothers of the American Circus has announced the closure of its operations after more than a hundred years website.
Kenneth Field, CEO of Feld Entertainment that owns the circus, says ticket sales have already fallen before and after the company abandoned circus elephants, and sales have fallen dramatically.
Acrobats during a show in New York 2016
Acrobats during a show in New York 2016
BILD: Copyright Rex Features Ltd 2012 / All Over Press
According to Field, the business is not sustainable because the costs are also high. Final shows will take place in Rhode Island and New York in May this year.
The last circus show in which elephants participated was held in May last year. The thirteen elephants spend their remaining years on the company’s 80-acre reserve in Florida.
A protester with a banner during the 2007 Ringling Brothers parade
Teaching assistant under the show en Ringling Brothers parad i Washngton 2007.
BILD: EPA/Matthew Kavanaugh
Ringling Brothers has been criticized by animal rights activists for the use of elephants and in 2011 the company paid a fine of 270,000 to the Department of Agriculture for alleged violations of animal welfare.
The circus was founded in 1884 in Wisconsin by five brothers. The family ran the company until 1967 when it was acquired by Feld Entertainment.
Ringling Brothers elephants in January 2016
Ringling Brothers cirkuselefanter i januari 2016.
Photo: JLN Photography / WENN.com
Feld Entertainment continues to arrange popular car shows and Disney shows.
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