Triumph of Trunks

In the beginning of March the Ringling Bros., a very popular traveling circus, announced they would be retiring all circus elephants by 2018. Other large circus groups such as Barnum & Bailey Circus have followed suit, also announcing the end of the use of elephants for performances. By 2018, many major performers will no longer be using elephants in their shows, instead the gentle giants will be sent to reservations to live out their days in safety and comfort.
India, who has lead the way on several other animal rights moves, has also made progress in the circus elephant department, in fact, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has outright banned the use of pachyderms for entertainment. 67 elephants were released from neglected and abused captors when this ban was put in place, all retired to a safer habitat.
As many people know, elephants are extremely intelligent creatures and they suffer greatly psychologically and physically in many of the enclosures they're kept in for human purposes (see Chai and Bamboo). It is so relieving to see major entertainers and even governments are beginning to recognize that animals are not objects but earthlings and are actually taking action for it. This was a major move on the part of the circuses and I am proud of them for doing it.

Photo from NPR

Photo by KirschnerKorner

NPR Article
India release

Chai and Bamboo: The Woodland Park Zoo Elephants

Though some zoos are very helpful when it comes to preserving and aiding endangered species, a lot of the time the animals on display suffer from psychological damage and are extremely unhappy. Such is the case with Chai and Bamboo, two elephants living in the Woodland Park Zoo. An animal rights group, The Elephant Justice Project, is ready to sue the zoo over the emotional conditions of their elephants.

Chai and Bamboo are to be moved, but it is up to the zoo whether they will be placed in an elephant sanctuary, or sent to another zoo. The activists are claiming the elephant's captivity is a violation of the Endangered Species Act.

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