Elephants take a final bow at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as the show closes its own chapter on a practice that has entertained audiences in America for two centuries but has come under fire by animal rights activists. The owners of the circus have said the animals will live at its 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida.
Open this photo in gallery: One of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus' performing elephants enters the arena for it's final show in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus' performing elephants appear in their last show in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Circus clowns watch on as the performing elephants are prepared for the matinee on their final day of performing elephants in the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Elephants head to the arena for the matinee on the final day for the performing elephants in the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Elephant crew member Adria Cuellar pets a performing elephant before its final show for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: An elephant performs in its final show for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: A performing elephant is loaded on to a truck following its final show for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Elephant crew member Adria Cuellar pets a performing elephant before its final show for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: The performing elephants enter the arena for the matinee on their final day of shows in the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Performing elephants drink water after appearing in their final show for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
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