Ringling elephants perform last show

The iconic elephants of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed for the last time yesterday.

The final 11 shows in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Providence, R.I., ended a 145-year-old tradition of the elephants taking part in the big top.

The final shows occurred after Ringling bowed to pressure from state and local rules placing more restrictions on the circus' use of exotic animals and the bullhook trainers use to control the animals. Animals rights activists also have protested for decades.

Read more from USA Today.