DESCRIPTION
The Last Circus Elephants offers a detailed and reflective examination of the final chapter in the long history of elephants performing in circuses. Drawing on decades of observation, research, and first-hand accounts, the book documents the lives of individual elephants, their trainers and handlers, and the circuses that shaped their working existence.
Moving beyond spectacle, it explores training methods, daily care, transport, performance routines, and the deep, often complex bonds formed between elephants and their keepers. The book also addresses changing public attitudes, evolving animal welfare standards, and the campaigns that ultimately led to the disappearance of elephants from the circus ring.
Measured, informative, and richly illustrated, The Last Circus Elephants preserves the stories of animals and people who lived through the end of an era, making it essential reading for those interested in circus history, animal welfare, and the changing relationship between humans and elephants.