Washington (AFP) - Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced Saturday it will host its final show in May, ending “The Greatest Show on Earth” after 146 years. Company executives cited high operating costs and declining ticket sales after the American circus retired its elephants -- a main draw -- as some of the factors that triggered its downfall. In May 2015, the circus retired its performing elephants after major criticism from animal rights groups, including widely circulated videos from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that showed a male handler hitting elephants with an ankus, or pointed stick. Ringling Brothers was also embroiled in a 14-year lawsuit in which animal rights groups alleged the circus was mistreating its herd. The case was eventually thrown out after a lead witness was found to have been paid for his testimony by animal rights groups.

Source: The Star January 15, 2017 05:20 UTC