Last March, Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said they would be retiring all of their elephants by 2018. But today, Feld announced that all the elephants will be done with their circus careers this spring.

The remaining elephants in the Ringling touring company will head to their permanent home at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida by May 2016.

“Our company and our family’s commitment to save the majestic Asian elephant will continue through our breeding program, research and conservation efforts at the Center,” says Executive Vice President with Feld Entertainment.

As mentioned last year, the decision to phase out the use of Ringling’s signature pachyderms comes amid both growing public concern about animal rights and increased local regulations on the use of elephants for entertainment purposes. Rather than fight these ordinances, the company realized it was easier to put those resources toward caring for the animals.

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