Meet Jumbo. He was an elephant in Phineas Barnum’s circus in the late 1800s. People loved this 7-ton, 12-foot performer. Because of him, “jumbo” became a word in the English language. But do elephants really belong in circuses? Many people say “no way!”

Jumbo the elephant seemed to agree. Mr. Barnum bought Jumbo from a zoo in London. Londoners loved the elephant. They felt sad to see him leave. Jumbo didn’t want to leave, either. When it came time for him to board the ship, he wouldn’t budge. After a few days and lots of coaxing, Mr. Barnum’s men got him onto the boat. In America, Jumbo drew enormous crowds. But Jumbo was too ill to perform. The circus used him anyway. He died just a few years later when a circus train struck him from behind.

Jumbo wasn’t the first circus elephant—or the last. For many years, people have complained about how the owners of the famous circus treat elephants. The company plans to stop using elephants in 2018. But others still worry. Will three years from now be too late?

Circus elephant trainers often used sharp bullhooks. These keep elephants in a straight line. Using electric prods and whips, trainers force elephants to perform. Elephants learn to stand on their hind legs while crossing their front legs. After performances, the circus packs the animals into train cars. In a new city or state, the show begins again.

Some animals enjoy performing. Many horses enjoy racing. Dogs like to fetch. But elephants don’t seem to be built for circus life. God gave us animals. But He told us to be kind to them. We have power to train animals for our entertainment. That doesn’t mean we always should.

“Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.” —Proverbs 12:10