A blind child in Chicago sits on the back of a kneeling elephant from the Ringling Brothers Circus in April 1917. Ringling Bros. will have elephants perform for the final time Sunday, May 1. It had previously said <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2015%2F03%2F05%2Fnews%2Fringling-bros-circus-elephants%2Findex.html" target="_blank">that all of its elephants would be retired by 2018, </a>but the retirement came early.
A blind child in Chicago sits on the back of a kneeling elephant from the Ringling Brothers Circus in April 1917. Ringling Bros. will have elephants perform for the final time Sunday, May 1. It had previously said that all of its elephants would be retired by 2018, but the retirement came early.
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Detective inspector Frank Story, right, euthanized this circus elephant after it was badly burned in a fire at the Ringling Bros. show grounds in Cleveland in August 1942.
Detective inspector Frank Story, right, euthanized this circus elephant after it was badly burned in a fire at the Ringling Bros. show grounds in Cleveland in August 1942.
AP
People stand near a circus elephant during a rehearsal in Sarasota, Florida, in 1949.
People stand near a circus elephant during a rehearsal in Sarasota, Florida, in 1949.
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Actress Marilyn Monroe rides on the back of an elephant to mark the opening night of the circus at New York's Madison Square Garden in March 1955.
Actress Marilyn Monroe rides on the back of an elephant to mark the opening night of the circus at New York's Madison Square Garden in March 1955.
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Elephants perform in New York in March 1964.
Elephants perform in New York in March 1964.
Dave Pickoff/AP
Elephants work out and train in 1971.
Elephants work out and train in 1971.
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Children in Denver react to Charlie the elephant in 1978.
Children in Denver react to Charlie the elephant in 1978.
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An elephant walks out of a boxcar near the show's famous animal trainer, Gunther Gebel-Williams, in 1979.
An elephant walks out of a boxcar near the show's famous animal trainer, Gunther Gebel-Williams, in 1979.
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Elephants perform in 1995.
Elephants perform in 1995.
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This January 2005 photo, provided by the Animal Protection Institute, shows circus elephants chained in Jacksonville, Florida. Feld Entertainment Inc., which produces the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2011%2F11%2F29%2Fus%2Fringling-bros-fine%2F" target="_blank">agreed to pay $270,000</a> for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act on several occasions from June 2007 to August 2011, according to a 2011 news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As part of the settlement, the company admitted no wrongdoing or violation of USDA policy.
This January 2005 photo, provided by the Animal Protection Institute, shows circus elephants chained in Jacksonville, Florida. Feld Entertainment Inc., which produces the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, agreed to pay $270,000 for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act on several occasions from June 2007 to August 2011, according to a 2011 news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As part of the settlement, the company admitted no wrongdoing or violation of USDA policy.
Bradley Stookey/Animal Protection Agency via AP
Nicole, a 31-year-old elephant, shows off her artistic talent in 2006 as she paints for children of the local Ronald McDonald House in New York.
Nicole, a 31-year-old elephant, shows off her artistic talent in 2006 as she paints for children of the local Ronald McDonald House in New York.
Sam Costanza/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Performers ride elephants during a show in New York in April 2007.
Performers ride elephants during a show in New York in April 2007.
Scott Wintrow/Getty Images
Animal handlers bathe and brush two elephants in Phoenix in July 2006.
Animal handlers bathe and brush two elephants in Phoenix in July 2006.
Jennifer Grimes/East Valley Tribune via AP
An elephant's trunk is seen on a train before a walk in Washington in 2009.
An elephant's trunk is seen on a train before a walk in Washington in 2009.
Carol Guzy/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Elephants perform in 2010 to celebrate the 200th birthday of Phineas Taylor Barnum, a founder of the circus.
Elephants perform in 2010 to celebrate the 200th birthday of Phineas Taylor Barnum, a founder of the circus.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images