Using dangerous, captive animals in performances also jeopardizes people, particularly children. Since the 1970s, scores have been hurt or killed by circus animals. After decades of advocacy efforts, Ringling Bros. retired all of its elephants in 2016 before going on hiatus the following year.

In May of 2016, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus retired their remaining show elephants, to a 200-acre retirement home in Florida. Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros., made the announcement in March of 2015, after intensive pressure from animal rights groups and slumping ticket sales.