In all circuses around the world elephants live in conditions that don't even begin to cover their basic needs for space, companionship, autonomy and mental and physical well-being. Very often the arguments used to keep them there have to do with prestige, politics, economics and ignorance, not the interests of the elephants.
The totally unnatural existence for circus elephants is a travesty and to allow this practice to continue is unjustified and unethical.
People who care about the well-being of animals are not extremists. The extremists are those who insist on keeping elephants confined in spaces that cause their mental and physical ill health.