For Rhode Islanders who value the lives and well-being of animals, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus should never be welcome in Providence. Don’t let Ringling fool you with its newfound compassion for elephants — it remains an enemy of animals.

Although it may be ending the elephant performances, plenty of other confined and tortured animals will remain as unwilling participants in its shows. Don’t think for a second that the elephants’ retirement has to do with anything other than Ringling’s bottom line. Elephants have been dismissed because they happen to be among the most high-profile circus victims.

This is a convenient public relations move, as disingenuous as SeaWorld’s end to captive whale breeding. There are still so many more Ringling victims in need of liberation.