While it is by now commonly known that animals suffer in the circus, some still insist on keeping them and making them perform for audiences around the world.
Reports from numerous circuses around the globe have revealed the cruelty with which wild animals are treated in order to perform tricks for humans.
Sadly, even in the modern day, there are still elephants kept in captivity and forced to perform for audiences.
And the reason behind this is always and only human entertainment and money-making.
For decades, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus used to have elephants in their performances, but after the backlash they received over the last few years, they retired their elephants in 2016.
The 35 Asian pachyderms that had only known captivity until then were not needed anymore. They needed to be transferred to a new, safe place to live the rest of their lives.
But things didn’t really go smoothly for them at retirement either.
The elephants were moved to a small preserve south of Orlando, where there was not enough room for them to roam and live free.
Luckily, their life was about to change soon. In 2021, they were transferred to The White Oak Conservation refuge, located in Yulee, Florida.
There, they could live as free as they could.
According to elephant care lead Nick Newby, because these elephants were born in captivity and raised in such a way that they need and have grown dependent on humans, setting them free into the wild was not an option. But, honestly, this sanctuary is as close as it can get to the real wild.
The man also highlighted how being set free benefitted the animals that are social by nature.
“I was so happy to see them come out together and reassure and comfort each other, just like wild elephants do, and then head out to explore their new environment. Seeing the elephants swim for the first time was amazing.”
The elephants took their first steps to freedom a bit hesitantly at first, but they soon started exploring their new environment. They started tasting new plants and exploring their new surroundings.
“We are excited to watch them adapt to the great outdoors, tasting new plants, exploring new areas, experiencing new things,” the sanctuary staff commented.
It is amazing to see how these creatures are enjoying their new home, how they interact with each other, and how they take in all the experiences this new life has to offer.
At the same time, it is really heartwarming to know that there are people out there, like the members of the sanctuary staff, who love animals and want to offer them the best life they can.
Let’s just hope that in the years to come there will be less animal cruelty and more animal rescues.
Watch these elephants’ story in the video below.
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