STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF RETIRED ASIAN ELEPHANT

(January 8, 2010 – Vienna, VA) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® sadly announces the passing of Josky, a beloved female Asian elephant, at its Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation^® in central Florida. Ringling Bros.^® veterinary staff determined euthanasia was appropriate due to the elephant’s declining health and a necropsy was performed. As part of Ringling Bros. own reporting protocol, the USDA was contacted.

During the mid 1970’s Josky made her debut at Circus World in Florida and became a featured performer of the famous Minyak 5. She later went on to perform with The Greatest Show On Earth^®. Following her tour, Josky retired and became a full time mother. She had five calves, two of which were born into the Ringling Bros. Asian elephant breeding program. Josky lived at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in Central Florida for 15 years where she was cared for by dedicated members of the Ringling Bros. elephant husbandry team.