Ringling Bros. right to retire elephants: Your Say

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will phase out its elephant acts by 2018, Feld Entertainment said Thursday.

Fantastic news! But considering all the pain inflicted on these animals for so long, why allow them to suffer for three more years? Let them go now and include the big cats.

— Kristina Tortorella

That is so sad that they feel the need to phase out this great animal act. My grandchildren just love the elephants.

— Sherrie Hoebbel TerMolen

The circus is about clowns, jugglers and high-wire feats of daring. Look at Cirque du Soleil, a fabulous show with no animals.

— Cherylin Sultan Clapp

I remember liking the elephants in the circus the last time I went, when I was 10 in 1980. But then I grew up and learned what it takes to get them to perform. It's better to see the animals in their natural habit.

— Mark Smith

There are always cases of abuse in every sector of life, even humans. Why not require closer monitoring and inspection of the animals, instead of another gross overreaction by pulling the plug entirely?

— Richard Chandler Sr.

Thank you, Ringling Bros., for finally doing this. As a society in general, more people understand now that these intelligent animals are worth more than just a circus act. Wild animals don't belong in a cage or in chains, existing solely for our entertainment. The hope is that one day we will have intelligence and compassion to eradicate animal acts completely.

— Sandra Velez