"There’s been somewhat of a mood shift among our consumers."

Ringling Bros. says circuses to be elephant-free in 3 years

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will phase out the show’s iconic elephants from its performances by 2018, telling The Associated Press exclusively that growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision.

Executives from Feld Entertainment, Ringling’s parent company, said the decision to end the circus’s century-old tradition of showcasing elephants was difficult and debated at length. Elephants have often been featured on Ringling’s posters over the decades. Read more at the AP.

» Announcement from Feld Entertainment is here.