Citing growing public concern over “how the animals are treated,” Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has taken the long-suffering elephants exploited for their shows off the road. And LION Pres John Di Leonardo and his father Gary traveled down to Rhode Island to protest their elephant acts one final time.

“There’s been somewhat of a mood shift among our consumers,” said Alana Feld, the company’s executive vice president. “A lot of people aren’t comfortable with us touring with our elephants.”