> It's because keeping a highly intelligent animal captive and part of a circus borders on cruelty even if the crew is doing their utmost to help the animals.

> It's because keeping a highly intelligent animal captive and part of a circus borders on cruelty even if the crew is doing their utmost to help the animals. This adequately answers "why not real elephants?" but doesn't answer "why bother with animatronics" at all. > Animatronic dinosaurs, why bother? Is there someone who bothers?