As a small child under ten, this was heaven to me.  I would stare in wonder at the alpacas, miniature horses, and bears.  I loved animals and this was an opportunity to get up close to exotics that I normally would not have access to. So, earlier this week when Ringling Brothers announced they were closing after 146 years in operation, it was bittersweet.

Animals forced to perform in the circus is unethical. And in recent years a new type of circuses, as illustrated by Cirque du Soleil, have shown us a more progressive means of Big Top entertainment.  Ringling Brothers cited low attendance as one reason why they are closing. They specifically said that ticket sales started to plummet when they began phasing out the elephants from their shows, which was done due to “mounting criticism from animal rights groups”.  This makes perfect sense to me.  You see, most people love animals and are curious about them. Most people do not want any harm to come to them. And most people, myself included, did not know at the time that making animals perform was considered unethical. As a child, I merely wanted to observe and worship a majestic elephant standing before me.  And I believe many people came to the circus not understanding the cruelty behind it.

Animal rights groups are correct. And hopefully this will mark the beginning of the end for animals being used in shows.  Another victory happened earlier this month; Sea World announced its decision to end all killer whale shows after the passing of Tilikum, the controversial whale that killed three people.

What was once viewed as wholesome family entertainment is now being reconsidered. It was “fun for the whole family”. But it is important to move forward and progress towards a new model of compassionate living.  And the end of Ringling Brothers paves the way for more ethically aware forms of entertainment that doesn’t include animals.

Chicago History Museum