The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has criticized the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s elephant show for decades, and the circus has officially agreed to phase the majestic animals out of its performances by 2018.

Elephants have been considered “lifelong symbols” of the iconic circus for 35 years, but since “anti-elephant” legislation has been making performance-planning increasingly difficult in recent years and the elephants have been inspiring a rising number of protests, the Ringling Bros. are almost ready to remove them from their tour.

“There’s been somewhat of a mood shift among our customers,” said Alana Feld, the company’s executive vice president. “A lot of people aren’t comfortable with us touring with our elephants.”

The company’s decision is especially surprising since they tweeted, “You’ll be amazed by the grace & athleticism of our performing pachyderms! See them in Circus XTREME” on Mar. 4, a day before the announcement. The Ringling Bros. website still insists that their elephants are “respected and revered” members of their family, and that the group’s $5 million, 200-acre elephant conservation facility is “dedicated to the conservation, breeding and understanding of these amazing animals.”

According to Feld, 13 of the company’s 29 elephants will continue to tour until 2018, a decision which is still bothering PETA.

“We know extreme abuse to these majestic animals occurs every single day, so if Ringling is really telling the truth about ending this horror, it will be a day to pop the champagne corks, and rejoice,” stated PETA on Thursday. “(But) three years is too long.”

NYCLASS, another animal rights group, agreed that three years is too long of a wait, as that lengthy phase out will allow Ringling Bros. to continue to “torture” their elephants.

“If Ringling is serious about ending abuse, they will send the elephants to a sanctuary now,” said NYCLASS Executive Director Allie Feldman.