Vegan News: Ringling bros circus to close its doors after 146 years

I cried tears of joy when I read the news today that after 146 years of enslaving magnificent wild animals, and forcing them to perform demeaning tricks for our 'entertainment' Ringling bros circus will close it's doors permanently in May this year. 

The archaic and cruel American show was forced into closure due to a variety of factors, according to company executives. Declining attendance combined with high operating costs, along with changing public tastes and prolonged battles with animal rights groups all contributed to its demise. (source)

This announcement comes hot on the heels of their decision to remove elephants from their show in 2016 due to pressure from animal rights groups, and is a sign if ever we needed one, that times are indeed changing. Public interest in seeing wild animals performing tricks for us is at an all time low, as more and more people start to realise the inherent cruelty involved in all of these shows.

Their existing animals — lions, tigers, camels, donkeys, alpacas, kangaroos and llamas — will go to suitable homes, according to the executives, however we are yet to learn exactly what their fate will be, and we'll watch with great interest as the story unfolds to see that these beautiful animals get to enjoy what's left of their lives in a sanctuary, away from the bright lights, baying crowds, and cages.

There is a growing list of countries across the globe who have BANNED wild animals in circus entertainment but we hope today that this voluntary closure is the start of the natural decline of this type of entertainment, and that one day, in the not too distant future, the use of animals for our entertainment will be confined to nothing more than stories in our the history books. 

Seaworld, your move.