The 145-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus held its last show featuring elephants Sunday night a move that’s being applauded by animal rights activists Ringling announced its plan last spring and is sending all its Asian elephants to live on the company’s Florida nature reserve The decision came after years of growing public concern for the elephants’ well-being with activists criticizing Ringling for forcing intelligent animals to live in captivity and isolation