I was born & raised in Houston, Texas & I am a fan of the Texas Renaissance Festival. I love dressing up & role playing for the day. I also love the choices of entertainment they have including shows like "Dead Bob" or the evening fireworks show. However, there is one option of entertainment that I do not agree with. They offer elephant rides for all ages.
I have been studying elephants for 2 years now. I've read the books, watched the documentaries, & I am now making them my life career.
Elephants are naturally nomadic animals who live to roam over vast amounts of land. According to San Diego Zoo bio archives, "elephants will walk an average of 50 miles per day" (sandiegozoo). Their instincts tell them to walk, to discover & shape the Sahara or the forest. Without the ability to roam, elephants will start to go mad. You know when an elephant has reached madness when he/she begins tilting their head back & fourth. They move like this to satisfy the need to walk without being able to.
The Renaissance Festival actively uses bullhooks. Elphant's voices said, "a bullhook may be used behind the ears where the skin is paper thin, around the eyes where the skin is also very thin, and on the feet, trunk and around the mouth which are highly enervated. These areas are all extremely sensitive to the touch" (elephantsvoices.org). A bullhook is emotional & physical tourture. Elephants are peaceful animals & do not need pain & fear in order to learn commands. They have the ability to gain personal relationships with fellow elephants & human companions & learn through trust.
It is not just the bullhook that needs stopping. Elephants captured for elephant back rides receive a horrible training process that causes permanent emotional and physical damage. According to Elephants Voices, "The elephants' spirits are broken through unbelievably gruesome methods, while they are tied up or chained in a pen where they cannot move" (elephantsvoices.org). These animals have self-awareness, feel & know emotion. They grieve & mourn the death of any elephant not just their own.
The only way we can put a stop to this extremely inhumane tourture is by signing this petition & making awareness of this issue. Tell friends & family members who may not know of this abusive training ritual & tell them to not participate in continuing this treatment.
