As Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus winds down its annual residency in Chicago, we thought that posting a video of circus elephants would be apropos today. more ›

It's been over 120 years since the city has been in this situation but we're promised it's only temporary: there are no elephants in the city. Well, that we know of. [Insert joke involving both Mayor Daleys, the Democratic "Machine," and Republicans here] You see, the elephant that was at the Brookfield Zoo for the last year, Joyce, is being returned to the owner from which she came which was, uh, a Six Flags theme park in New Jersey. On a sad note, Joyce was the last left because Brookfield's other elephant, Christy, died late last year. But fear not, pachyderm fans, for Brookfield promises more elephants in the near future. Time Out has the zoo's statement on its plans and that the zoo didn't announce Joyce's departure out of concern for the elephant's "safety and the safety of the transport team." more ›

When a friend of ours visited Kenya a few years ago she stopped by an elephant orphanage operated by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and fell in love with the cause. In particular she connected with an adorable little blind baby elephant named Ndolo --who was later profiled on 60 Minutes -- and she was deeply moved by the dedication of the people working with the animals and for the Trust. The Trust operates primarily in Tsavo National Park rescuing and raising both elephant and rhino orphans upholding the ivory ban, de-snaring operations, a mobile veterinary project, animal welfare, and general conservation initiatives. more ›

You love elephants, don't you? Who doesn't? Tuesday was Elephant Appreciation Day and the Field Museum is celebrating by performing a vacuum cleaning of the museum's famed fighting elephants on display in the main hall. The two fighting African elephants have been on display since 1909 when The Field Museum was located in Jackson Park. They were collected and mounted by Carl E. Akeley, who also revolutionized the art of taxidermy. But get there early if you want to get in on the action because it starts shortly after the museum opens at 9 a.m. more ›

Humanity could learn a lot from this video... more ›

Alderman Mary Ann Smith is pushing for a city ordinance that would ban cruelty towards elephants. She came up with the idea last year after three elephants died at the Lincoln Park Zoo, but now it's an issue again because the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is planning its November run at the United Center. more ›