Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Returns - Without Animals
The iconic circus makes its comeback this month, and for the first time will focus solely on human feats instead of forcing animals to perform.
The long-running Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is set to make its comeback this month, and for the first time in its history, the performance will not feature live animals.
Known as the “Greatest Show on Earth”, the Ringling Bros circus stopped its 146 year-run back in 2017, after falling ticket sales and a long history of criticism and legal challenges by animal rights groups who condemned the circus’s use of animals.
Now, the show’s big comeback is set to begin in Louisiana on 29th September, as part of an initial nationwide tour of 19 cities across North America. And the circus’s rebrand for modern audiences includes a huge, positive step for animal welfare: the decision to stop using animals in performances and instead focus on human feats and narrative story lines.
The Ringling circus had previously used animals including elephants, lions, and tigers to perform tricks. But Ringling has spent the last few years redefining its brand to design a whole new show to meet the demands of modern families and audiences.
The new iteration of Ringling will focus on inspiring and exciting human performers, with a cast of 75 performers who were discovered during a global talent search and hail from more than 18 countries including Ethiopia, Mongolia, Ukraine, Canada, and the US.
Performers will showcase circus arts including aerial, acrobatics, comedy, world dance, and more, and the show will also incorporate enhanced technology to fully immerse audiences in the moment.
“[Ringling’s] decision to bring the circus back without animals sends a very clear message to the industry that the circus can dazzle audiences with willing human performers and that no animal needs to be exploited,” Rachel Mathews, a director from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation, said previously about Ringling’s comeback.
Many Animals Still Forced to Perform in the US
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) say that wild animals are still being used at circuses in the US like Carden Circus and Culpepper & Merriweather Circus. The group says that many county and state fairs and festivals also still force the likes of tigers, lions, bears, and sea lions to perform circus tricks. Just last month, HSUS documented “visibly stressed” tigers who were being forced to perform as part of an “appaling display” at the Carver County Fair Tiger Encounter in Waconia, Minnesota.
“Visibly stressed” tigers forced to perform last month in Minnesota. Credit: Zack Eichten/TheHSUS
But Ringling’s move to an animal-free circus marks a significant milestone in the fight against forcing wild animals to perform in the US.
And earlier this month, the UniverSoul Circus - which used animal acts involving zebras, camels, and other wild and exotic animals in its shows for decades - became the latest company to join the growing list of animal-free circuses.
“UniverSoul’s decision to stop exploiting animals sends a message to industry holdouts that cruelty doesn’t belong under the big top in the 21st century,” said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA thanks UniverSoul for joining Ringling Bros. and other circuses that have recognized growing public disgust at the cruelty involved in training, caging, and chaining wild animals and encourages everyone to support circuses that feature only willing human performers.”
Species Unite is urging Congress to finally pass the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act, a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the use of exotic or wild animals in traveling performances like circuses and parades. Add your name to the petition here.
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