The circus has long been a popular family outing. With its acrobats, animals and clowns, many still get excited when the big top comes to town. Some popular circuses have been operating for more than a century.

But in 2015, the circus does not always enjoy the same sort of warm reception it did a few decades ago. Concerns have been raised by animal rights activists about the treatment of animals and the conditions they live in at circuses around the world. 

This week it has been reported that the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the US will be phasing out their elephant act over the next three years. The 13 remaining performing elephants will live at the organisation's Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida, where they will join almost 30 other elephants.

Circus representative Kenneth Feld told The Associated Press "we're not reacting to our critics; we're creating the greatest resource for the preservation of the Asian elephant." 

It's the latest example of a circus responding to cultural and social changes. Many have phased out animal acts entirely.

But are all these changes fundamentally altering the appeal of the circus? Will acrobats be the primary - maybe even only? - draw of the 'greatest show on Earth' in the future?

The panel will be discussing the subject of circuses on the Right Hook today from 6pm. You can listen live here: http://www.newstalk.com/player/

We want to know what you think about the circus. Does it still have its place in society or is it an outdated institution? Are you excited or annoyed about the changes circuses have gone through over the years? Vote in our poll below:

You can send your comments to the show by email (info@newstalk.com), by text message (53106 – texts cost 30c each), on Facebook or by tweeting @newstalkfm or@ghook.