Ringling Brothers circus closing after more than 100 years

The Ringling Brothers circus is closing down after more than 100 years in operation.
    
High operating costs and the decline of ticket sales made the circus an unsustainable business for the company, Feld Entertainment.
    
Before taking the final bow, the Ringling Bros will perform 30 shows across the United States between now and May.    
    
For years, the elephants have been in the spotlight and their dance routines featured prominently in the shows.
    
But due to mounting criticism from animal rights groups, the Ringling Bros. phased out the elephant acts entirely, which resulted a dramatic drop in ticket sales.
    
The full cast of the circus ranges from 250 to 300 people, visiting about 115 cities each year.