Images: Circus Elephants Through the Years
See circus elephants through the years. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018, telling The Associated Press exclusively on Thursday, March 5, 2015 that growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision.
Elephants and horses from the Barnum & Bailey/Ringling Brothers Circus walk down the streets of Des Plaines to Allstate Arena in Rosemont while crowds watch them go by.
DAILY HERALD 2003 FILE PHOTO
Donna Holmes of Arlington Heights shows Sophia Cerino, 4,of Park Ridge, the elephants and horses from the Barnum & Bailey/Ringling Brothers Circus as they walk down the streets of Des Plaines to Allstate Arena in Rosemont
DAILY HERALD 2003 FILE PHOTO
Elephants and horses from the Barnum & Bailey/Ringling Brothers Circus walk down the streets of Des Plaines to Allstate Arena in Rosemont while crowds watch them go by.
DAILY HERALD 2003 FILE PHOTO
Amazing elephants are a part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show "Built to Amaze!"
Courtesy of Feld Entertainment
Elephants appear in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show "Built to Amaze!" at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont and the United Center in Chicago.
Courtesy of Feld Entertainment
In this Feb. 19, 2015 file photo, four-year-old Asian elephant April rings bell during Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circuspre-show at Knoxville Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, Tenn. The circus will phase out the show's iconic elephants from its performances by 2018, telling The Associated Press exclusively on Thursday, March 5, 2015 that growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Jan. 3, 2015 photo provided by Feld Entertainment Inc., elephants perform at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Tuesday, March 3, 2015 photo, elephants Mike, right, and Angelica walk in their pen at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Tuesday, March 3, 2015 photo, Kenneth Feld, left, CEO of Feld Entertainment Inc., and his daughters, from right, Juliette, Alana, and Nicole, feed elephants Alana and Icky at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Tuesday, March 3, 2015 photo, palm trees tower over a sign leading into the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Tuesday, March 3, 2015 photo, elephants Icky, right, and Alana stand together at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In ASSOCIATED PRESSthis Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 photo, a male elephant scratches on the bars of his pen at the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
In this Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 photo, elephant Angelica is seen at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this March 19, 2013 file photo, a performer waves as elephants with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show, pause for a photo opportunity in front of the Capitol in Washington, on their way to the Verizon Center, to promote the show coming to town.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This undated aerial photo provided by Feld Entertainment Inc., shows the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk City, Fla.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This undated aerial photo provided by Feld Entertainment Inc., shows the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Tuesday, March 3, 2015 photo, Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, feeds Alana and Icky at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, in Polk City, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it will phase out its iconic elephant acts by 2018.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this April 9, 1949 file photo, "Skee Otaris' hands are over her head as her elephant does a headstand during performance of The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden in New York. The circus will phase out the show's iconic elephants from its performances by 2018, telling The Associated Press exclusively on Thursday, March 5, 2015 that growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this March 31, 1960 file photo, Edward Healy, elephant trainer, handles one of the big animals during opening of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden in New York.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Feb. 19, 2015 file photo, four-year-old Asian elephant April rings bell during Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circuspre-show at Knoxville Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, Tenn.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this April 9, 1999 file photo, a pair of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus elephants cross Eighth Avenue in front of the Main Post Office in New York.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this July 16, 1956 file photo, a circus hand guides a big elephant down the ramp as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus arrives in Pittsburgh.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this March 6, 1970 file photo, performers on top of the circus elephants arrive for the The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in New York.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this April 12, 1988 file photo, New York City Mayor Edward Koch feeds a bagel to an elephant from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus during a lunchtime picnic in New York.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Oct. 17, 2001 file photo, a procession of seven Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus elephants parade through Boston's North End neighborhood on their way to a "Patriotic Pachyderm Pasta Party."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, ringmaster Andre McClain, center, holds his hat to his heart as the national anthem is played during the opening of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Built To Amaze show at Knoxville Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, Tenn.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this July 21, 1982 file photo, actress and model Brooke Shield sits tall atop an elephant as she participates in the Galaxy of Stars Gala for the benefit of Vista Del Mare Child Care Services, during the opening of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus in Los Angeles.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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