Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® animal care fact sheet

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® has over 134 years’ experience working with and caring for exotic and domestic animals. The Ringling Bros. menagerie typically includes Asian elephants, tigers, horses, zebras, camels and llamas, but varies depending on the current productions on tour.

Training: The relationship between animals and humans that perform with Ringling Bros. is built on mutual respect, trust and affection. Our training methods are based on reward and repetition in the form of food rewards and words of praise. Trainers teach animals routines that showcase their physical abilities and beauty, as well as their distinctive behaviors. Verbal or physical abuse and the withholding of food or water are strictly prohibited, and drugs or sedatives are not administered unless prescribed by our Ringling Bros. veterinarian for medical reasons.

Industry Regulations: Ringling Bros. is subject to comprehensive animal welfare regulations at the federal, state and local levels. Under the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts regular unannounced inspections of our animals and the animal compound. In the over 36 years of current ownership, Ringling Bros. has never been found in violation of the AWA for abuse, neglect or mistreatment of its animals. In fact, in all aspects of animal care and safety, Ringling Bros. meets or exceeds all federal animal welfare standards.

Animal Health: Ringling Bros. employs a full-time staff veterinarian who administers veterinary care to all the animals. A local veterinarian is also on call 24 hours a day in each city where the show performs. Each animal receives regular, thorough medical examinations and all needed vaccinations. The animals are fed, watered, groomed and cleaned daily. The entire stable area, as well as individual animal stalls, is cleaned regularly, manure removed and fresh bedding provided.

Transportation and Housing: Our animals are transported in specially designed private railroad cars. Appropriate stops are made during travel to feed and water the animals and clean out their cars. While traveling, our animals are under constant supervision. At the arena, the animals are safely housed in individual stables or enclosures or tethered in a safe, appropriate manner. All of our animal enclosures were specifically designed by our staff to meet the unique needs of each individual species. Elephants are comfortably tethered along a line similar to those used for horses. Ringling Bros. has also pioneered the use of a traveling perimeter fence within which our elephants can exercise and socialize. Tigers are housed in specially designed cages with fold-out verandas that provide ample room for movement and interaction between animals. Each animal is provided with adequate space according to its particular needs and requirements as defined by the Animal Welfare Act, with the advice of the Ringling Bros. veterinarian and the animal’s individual trainer.

Feeding: Our animals are fed and watered in prescribed measures on a regular schedule as determined by our veterinarian and the animal’s trainer. Fresh food, including hay, protein-enriched grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, vitamin-fortified prepackaged meat, bread and a special vitamin and mineral-enriched granular mix, is shipped directly to the arena from local sources in each city.

Safety and Security: We are the first to acknowledge and respect the natural instincts of our exotic animals. Our animal attendants are familiar with the individual personalities and temperaments of their charges. Ringling Bros. provides around-the-clock security for our animals - protection form other animals, natural predators, public harassment, vandalism and trespassers. Only qualified animal attendants, trainers and Ringling Bros. personnel are allowed in the stable area. In our 34-year history, Ringling Bros. has never experienced an animal-related incident that placed a member of the general public at risk.

Conservation of Endangered Species: In addition to providing a healthy, safe and secure environment where humans an animals live and work together in cooperation, Ringling Bros. is committed to and deeply involved in the conservation of exotic species. There are a number of threatened species and endangered species in our 600-plus animal menagerie. All of the Ringling Bros. animals are either captive-bred or were acquired in accordance with the Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) or the Endangered Species Act, which prohibit the taking of animals from the wild.

Studies have proven that the public display of animals heightens public awareness of the animals themselves and of humankind’s responsibility for their well-being and protection. Children, especially, become aware of the needs and abilities of animals and experience first-hand the importance of caring for and respecting all animals. Ringling Bros. has committed substantial resources to protect the present and future well-being or rare and endangered species. To help assure the survival of the Asian elephant, we have created the Center for Elephant Conservation, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the conservation, breeding and study of this species.

Retirement: Ringling Bros. operates a sanctuary in Central Florida that serves as a retirement facility for elephants. The age for retiring animals varies by species and by individual animal. For example, Ringling Bros. elephants have performed well into their 50s, tigers to the age of 20 and horses into their 20s. Due to superb care and treatment, the longevity of exotic animals in the care of Ringling Bros. is greater than the general life expectancy of similar species in the wild or on reserves.

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