20 retired circus elephants transferred to Polk County sanctuary

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Channel 9 got a look at life for retired circus elephants that were transferred to Polk County after their final Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's performance in Rhode Island.
 
The move to bring the elephants to Ringling's Centers for Elephant Conservation ends a 145-year tradition. The circus said it will focus on the conservation and study of the animal.
 
Almost two dozen new Asian elephants now reside in a 200-acre sanctuary as their permanent retirement home. There are 40 elephants in total, ranging from 6 years old to more than 70 years old.

"It's going to be exciting to share our elephants and the knowledge we've gotten from our elephants with the entire elephant community," said Janice Aria of the Center for Elephant Conservation.

Photos: Retired elephants living at Ringling's Centers for Elephant Conservation
 
The company first planned to retire the animals in two years, but moved up the date after growing restrictions and opposition from animal-rights groups.
 
"We're so proud of 26 births. We feel that our ability to work with these elephants has really insured a very high success rates in birthing and to watch these babies take their first steps (and) learn to relate to people who will ultimately take care of them," Aria said.

Officials said they hope to one day open the sanctuary to the public.
 
The sanctuary will hold the largest population of Asian elephants in the Western Hemisphere.

Cox Media Group