Elephants giving rides at this year’s Colorado Renaissance Festival were abused, says Animal Defenders International
JULY 27, 2017 LARKSPUR, CO – Elephants supplied for rides at this year’s Colorado Renaissance Festival have been filmed by Animal Defenders International (ADI) being beaten by their handler, Mike Swain, during training. ADI is asking the public not to pay for the elephant rides.
Jan Creamer, ADI President: “We are appealing to the public not to pay to ride abused elephants. Paying for the rides pays for this appalling and unacceptable cruelty. We believe that once people see how these animals suffer behind the scenes, they will not endorse such behavior and hope that event organizers will take a responsible position and end the rides.”
ADI has released a video about the suffering behind the rides, “No Fun for Elephants,” with award-winning TV legend Bob Barker, who observes: “To many, it looks like harmless fun, but elephants pay a heavy price for the few minutes of entertainment they provide when giving rides. Isn’t it especially tragic when animals are suffering and being abused simply to entertain us?”
ADI is urging the Colorado Renaissance Festival to cancel the elephant rides at this year’s festival and all future events. Event organizers have been invited to watch the No Fun For Elephants DVD and online video. http://bitly.com/nofunforelephants
On Saturday & Sunday, July 29 & 30, 2017, local supporters of ADI and Animal ACTion Network will be outside the Colorado Renaissance Festival urging visitors to enjoy the festival but not support the elephant rides.
| WHAT: | Elephant ride outreach at the Colorado Renaissance Festival |
| WHEN: |
Saturday, July 29, 2017, 10:00am Sunday, July 30, 2017, 10:00am |
| WHERE: |
Colorado Renaissance Festival 650 West Perry Park Avenue, Larkspur, CO 80118 |
Elephant rides have been abandoned by several events after responsible board members viewed the evidence, including Kern County, Orange County, San Diego County and Los Angeles County Fairs, the city of Fountain Valley, CA, and Santa Ana Zoo.
Animal Defenders International (ADI): Los Angeles – London – Bogota
Ending the suffering of animals in captivity and protecting wild animals and their environments
Active worldwide to end the suffering of animals: animals in entertainment – film, television, advertising, circuses and sport or leisure; animals used for food or fur; protection of wildlife and the environment; trade in animals; zoos, pets, entertainment and laboratories. Funding and promotion of advanced scientific methods to replace the use of animals in research. ADI investigates, produces evidence and reports on the scientific, legal and economic issues for each case study, recommending solutions. Education and awareness to public, media and officials. Where ADI’s evidence has been a catalyst for change, we collaborate with governments to conduct large-scale seizures of wild animals in captivity and relocate them to forever homes – back to their natural habitat wherever possible.
