The Ringling Bros. circus and Barnum & Bailey are closing down. After more than 140 years of operation both major circus’ are coming to an end.

“I have made the difficult business decision that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® will hold its final performances in May of this year,” CEO Kenneth Feld said.

Feld also said the closure is in part due to low ticket sales and high operating costs.

“After the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop in ticket sales.”

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Many groups like PETA are rejoicing the closing of the circus.

 

The Humane Society’s President and CEO Wayne Pacelle said in a statement Sunday, “It’s just not acceptable any longer to cart wild animals from city to city and have them perform silly yet coercive stunts, I know this is bittersweet for the Feld family, but I applaud their decision to move away from an institution grounded on inherently inhumane wild animal acts.”

 

The Ringling Circus will have of run of final performances from now till May.

 

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*Pictures from CNN*