It is so beautiful when humans reveal their kind-hearted, compassionate side, and act consciously, aware of the importance of our planet and all kinds of life on it.

This is particularly evident when people do their best to save animals and stop the violence they often suffer. Nowadays, we can sense a new spirit, and only hope that terms like “circus elephants” will simply not be part of anyone’s everyday vernacular.

In late 2018, New Jersey passed the “Nosey’s Law”, honoring the plight of an African elephant who would one day finally experience freedom in a sanctuary, which bans traveling circus animals within state lines. The goal of the law was to send all animal abusers a message that their presence is not welcome in New Jersey.

New Jersey and Hawaii are the first states to issue legislation against the notoriously inhumane practice, and there is already legislation in 145 US localities that offer certain limitations and restrictions on animal performances.

On the other hand, Germans enjoy the holographic imagery at the Circus Roncalli. Circus goers experience some of the more traditional “Barnum & Bailey” fanfare: the lions and tigers and bears and elephants routine, but the tech-savvy Big Top approach ensures they also see amazing things that could never happen in real life.

After a decades-long fight, animal right activists were delighted that the UK has recently passed a ban on all wild animal performers in its circuses. The Wild Animals in Circuses Bill means that circus operators in England won’t be able to use wild animals as part of a traveling circus, with the government saying this has ‘no place in modern society’.

The movement towards the complete ban of using circus animals gets stronger all around the world.

In 2017, famous circus corporations Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey shut down after years of protest against them. In 2015, citing a “mood shift” among customers, Ringling Bros. stopped using elephants in their performances, but due to the continued low ticket sales, it shuttered two years later.

And now, the government of Denmark has made a heartwarming move- it has purchased the last four remaining circus elephants from two different establishments, paying 11 million kroner ($1.6 million) to give them a proper retirement.

Additionally, according to the country’s Food and Fisheries Minister, Mogens Jensen, the country is expected to ban wild circus animals by the end of 2019.

Jensen added that they have come up with a sensible solution so that the elephants can get better. He stated that wild animals do not belong to either a stable or a riding school, so he will propose a new animal welfare law, to finally get wild animals banned from the circus.

While the details for their permanent home are all sorted, the welfare of the lucky elephants, named Ramboline, Lara, Djunga, and Jenny, is now ensured by a group known as Animal Protection Denmark.

The Danish ministry said that the elephants will be sent to the establishment that can offer them the highest level of well-being.

Circus Arena manager Benny Berdino claimed he was “sad to have to say goodbye” to its elephants, but he was happy they would get a good retirement. The fourth elephant belonged to Cirkus Trapez.

They will soon forget all the flashing lights and scary sounds that destroyed their life, and they can simply live like elephants, with all the love and care they deserve.

Sources:
www.pbs.org
www.goodnewsnetwork.org
globalnews.ca
www.unilad.co.uk
www.mnn.com