MetroSource News - The iconic elephants of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus are getting ready for their final performances.

The curtain comes down on the long circus tradition after decades of protests by animal rights activists. The last shows featuring the circus' Asian elephants will take place today in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Providence, Rhode Island.

All eleven remaining elephants will begin their trip to Florida on Monday to spend their retirement at Ringling's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation.

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420