Live Cargo

This image of an elephant suspended in the air is, thankfully, something we would never see today. However, it was a common sight in the early 20th century. Elephants were often captured and transported to the United States to perform in circuses and live in zoos. This image shows how they would offload these large, majestic animals from the ship when it docked. 

Circus elephants weren’t treated very well. They often experienced abuse and bewildering treatment that had nothing to do with their natural behaviors or habitats. Elephants are pretty social creatures and live in large family units in the wild. Most circuses changed their training and treatment practices for the better as the decades went on. However, Ringling Brothers Circus finally phased out its famous elephant act in 2015 due to public pressure.