The Melha Shrine Circus is back in West Springfield.
Animal rights activists protested the circus Thursday on the opening day of a four-day event.
The circus tried not having animals be part of its act for the first time last year, but returned them to the act this year after officials said it was a money-losing deal.
The circus is at the Eastern States Exposition grounds.
(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)