The world famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey elephants are being phased out.
The circus' parent company, Feld Entertainment, tells the Associated Press that starting in 2018 the giant animals will no longer be used in its three ring extravaganza.
Feld says the move comes amid growing concern about how the animals are treated.
For years, the iconic pachyderms made a grand entrance in the city, marching through the Midtown tunnel for the circus' annual shows at Madison Square Garden.
The circus says the elephants will retire at its conservation center in Florida.
The elephant act is a century-old tradition at Ringling Brothers.
Officials say the decision to eliminate it was not an easy one.