( CNN ) After enduring about four days at sea under stressful conditions , Tyke , an African elephant , escaped during a circus performance , crushing her trainer to death and injuring dozens of others while storming through the streets of Honolulu . Tyke suffered a slow and painful death after being hit by a barrage of bullets fired by police officers . That incident happened 20 years ago , but the welcome announcement last week by Feld Entertainment -- parent company to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus -- that it plans to retire elephants from its circuses by 2018 is a reminder of how that controversy lingers . In analyzing the horrific experience involving Tyke , it was reported that the elephant had been rebellious before she arrived on our shores , and she is said to have had a history of acting out and being unpredictable . And though she was not submissive and was difficult to train , her owners sent her to Honolulu anyway . Sadly , performing animals in circuses and traveling shows are too often subjected to inhumane conditions , especially in their training . Reward-based training takes time and patience , which are things that many circus trainers do not have . Instead , these trainers frequently resort to other inhumane means , involving beating the animals , using electrical prods , depriving them of food , chaining them and other brutal methods to force the animals into submission . Following this sort of brutal training , the animals may appear tame , but they are still wild and their original wild instincts will appear if provoked . Meanwhile , animals that are no longer useful to the circus or traveling shows due to age or temperament may be given away or sold to other less reputable organizations . They lack proper veterinary care , and what little quality of life they did have is diminished further . The welfare of the animal is not taken into account . Rather than being treated as a commodity by the owner , animals should be protected and well cared for . Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has said it prides itself on providing a healthy environment for animals . Yet whatever provisions they may make , the reality is that circuses are particularly unsuited to meet the unique needs of elephants . These extremely intelligent animals live in large family groups when in the wild , and they form close social ties with other elephants . But the circus environment keeps them isolated and provides little to no interaction with their own species . Their herd-like behavior is ignored when they are being trained to perform . These very social animals , simply put , should not be living in solitary confinement . Animal welfare advocates have often been criticized as being against `` fun . '' We are told that circuses and traveling shows are about education . But what could one possibly learn about animals from watching these shows ? Observing wild animals perform unnatural tricks while dancing in tutus only teaches the public that the sole purpose of animals is our entertainment . Are these really the values we want our children to learn ? Wildlife sanctuaries and accredited zoos should exist for conservation , preservation and propagation of species and for public education . This is where learning should occur . Wild animals should be permitted to exist undisturbed in their natural environments , and when they must be confined , it should be in a natural setting consistent with their physical and behavioral needs . This is the proper setting for education and study . Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has come a long way in its thinking , and for that we congratulate the company for its decision to move the elephants to its sanctuary in Florida . Rather than fighting the many cities and counties that have taken steps to pass anti-circus and anti-elephant ordinances , the company instead is putting its resources toward the study and protection of elephants . With this step , we look forward to the day that it , and other circuses , phase out all wild animals , including the lions and tigers that also are featured in their shows . After all , wild and exotic animals are not meant to entertain us . The Hawaiian Humane Society feels strongly about the humane treatment of all animals , whether domesticated or wild . Our organization , like others in the animal welfare movement , seeks to prevent any practice that might produce pain , stress , injury or suffering to any animal . This is an important part of creating a more humane society -- for people and all animals .
Feld Entertainment plans to retire elephants from its circuses . please note : We congratulate the zoo for its decision to retire elephants .