ELLENTON, FLA. — The Feld Family, owners of Feld Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, announced today, Jan. 11, that all of the Asian elephants from their traveling circus units will be moved to their permanent home at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida in May 2016. There they will join the rest of the Ringling Bros. herd of Asian elephants, for a total of 42 at the Conservation Center.

In March of last year, Feld Entertainment announced all of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s touring elephants would move to the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation by 2018. Since then, the company’s dedicated staff has made the necessary plans and preparations to move the elephants to the Center for Elephant Conservation much sooner than anticipated.

The elephants’ move to Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation will allow the company to focus on its Asian elephant conservation program and the pediatric cancer research partnership with Dr. Joshua Schiffman of Primary Children’s Hospital and The Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, all while continuing to provide a unique family experience at the circus with the next edition of The Greatest Show On Earth.

“Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brings families together to share in pure fun and wonder through live entertainment. From now until May 2016, our elephants will continue to be a part of that wonderful experience, and we invite families that want to see our amazing elephants perform one last time to have an opportunity to do so,” said Alana Feld, Ringling Bros. Producer and Executive Vice President with Feld Entertainment. “Our company and our family’s commitment to save the majestic Asian elephant will continue through our breeding program, research and conservation efforts at the Center. This transition will also allow us to fully focus on the role our elephants have in the pioneering pediatric cancer research project with Dr. Schiffman.”

The Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation is working toward a world with more elephants and less cancer. To learn more about Ringling Bros. successful breeding program and pediatric cancer research program visit www.ringlingelephantcenter.com.