Center for Elephant Conservation

Pampered Performers – Elephants in The Greatest Show On Earth


The Asian elephant has been living and working with humans for thousands of years. More than one-third of the remaining Asian elephants in the world interact closely with humans in different places and ways, such as circuses, zoos, agricultural and logging industries, religious ceremonies, and eco-tourism. To learn how elephants and people work together at The Greatest Show On Earth^®, check out our facts on performing elephants below.
1. Elephants that perform with Ringling Bros. are provided with round-the-clock veterinary attention, nutritious meals, and a clean, safe home. 2. Elephants at Ringling Bros. are stimulated by all the exciting activity around them, have time for play and social interaction with other animals, and have a chance to use their physical and mental skills every day.
	3. Trained elephants are more predictable in their behavior, and that is a key reason why it's safe to be around them. There is no evidence that captive elephants are any more prone to aggressive or erratic behavior than those in the wild. 4. Studies have shown that the public display of performing elephants contributes to heightened public awareness of the animals themselves and of our responsibility for their well-being and protection. This is especially true for children, who
not only become more aware of elephants and their special needs and abilities, but also experience firsthand the importance of caring for and respecting all animals. 5. A positive, healthy environment is the foundation of training elephants. Therefore, the cornerstone of all circus elephant training at Ringling Bros. is reinforcement through praise, repetition and reward.
6. The display and care of elephants and other performing animals are subject to animal welfare laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels. Ringling Bros. has an excellent record of care for all our animals. 7. Under the federal Animal Welfare Act, all circuses are required to have a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) exhibitor's license.
8. The USDA conducts regular unannounced inspections of performing animals and their stable areas. The federal Animal Welfare Act regulates and sets guidelines for housing, transportation and care for most of our performing animals. However, Ringling Bros. observes these guidelines for our entire animal family. 9. Circuses and other animal exhibitors are also subject to state and local animal welfare laws and permit requirements. Such regulations provide protection to all performing animals and allow for the prosecution of those who neglect or mistreat the animals in their care. 10. Only those elephants with a suitable temperament and a natural predisposition toward training are selected for Ringling Bros. performances. For example, most circuses employ female Asian elephants for performances, since their social structure better lends itself to training and performing. Bull elephants are more solitary by nature.