If you couldn’t make it to our Colorado Renaissance Festival demo’s yet, guess what, there’s a really easy way you can also help – from the comfort of your home! 

The editor of the Highlands Ranch Herald, Ryan Boldrey, published the attached feature about the Festival and even suggested people go out and enjoy the elephant rides.  Last year, when the Carson Barnes Circus came to Highlands Ranch, Ryan was very good about printing a full page article when he was educated about the circus’ horrible record.  He covered both sides, sharing the controversy very well.  If he’s POLITELY educated and engaged, he may just do the same about the Renaissance Festival.

So, would you take a moment to write him or even put together a POLITE letter to the editor explaining why elephant rides are inherently abusive? 

You can use these talking points from ADI: http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2852&ssi=11  and also this page set up specifically for the Renaissance Festival: http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=3034  You can also refer him to Bob Barker’s YouTube video appeal on behalf of elephants here: http://youtu.be/QYjrjQ_SGAk

It’s important he hear from you by Tuesday since there are only 2 weekends left for the Festival and then, it will be old news.  Here is the contact info for Ryan Boldrey: Letters to the Editor can be emailed to [address removed] (300 words or less including your full name, address, and contact phone #).  Also, you can write him directly at [address removed] or call him at[masked].

It’s important he hear from someone other than me all the time, in order to realize this is important to so many!

The elephants and big cats and camels dragged to the Festival thank you for your help!!!!!

This is what he wrote along with the photos (in case you can’t read it from the attached photo):

“A Centennial State tradition, the Colorado Renaissance Festival, has just 2 Saturdays and 2 Sundays left this summer.  So before it passes you by, head on down to Larkspur and kneel to the king and queen, take an elephant ride, watch some fire-breathing entertainment and enjoy a late-afternoon joust while enjoying a turkey leg and cold beverage.  The festival, which brings the medieval out in many, features fine art, fare of the times, rides for the kids and more.  For more information, visit www.coloradorenaissance.com”

MORE INFORMATION:

ADI Campaign to end elephant rides & displays

When county fair boards, zoos, parades, renaissance fairs, weddings and other events provide elephant rides or put elephants out on display for the public, it is not harmless fun. It certainly looks harmless and often the impression is given that the animal is enjoying the experience. That is a sham. The animal is fearful and doing as it is told because the punishment for disobedience is severe – from a beating to an electric shock from a stun gun.

Animal Defenders International has released undercover video of elephant training and handling at Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT), based in Perris, CA. Many county fair boards, once they have seen this footage, realize the suffering that goes on behind closed doors, out of public view, have decided to end the rides.

See footage from Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT) of Perris, CA

And also video of Mike Swain, working the elephants owned by Bill Swain of Trunks & Humps, of Conroe, Texas – his elephants are frequently used for rides at renaissance fairs–

After the footage was released, Orange County Fair, LA County Fair, Upland Lemon Festival, Santa Ana Zoo, and the cities of Fountain Valley, and Sierra Madre have all made the decision that they will not include animal cruelty in their events.

Our current activities

ADI is presently campaigning to end elephant rides at:

·         Sioux Empire Fair

·         San Diego County Fair

·         Kern County Fair

Success!

To date, we have won victories and ended elephant rides at:

·         Upland Lemon Festival

·         Los Angeles County Fair

·         Orange County Fair

·         Fountain Valley Easter event

·         Santa Ana Zoo – read about the decision and campaign

·         Sierre Madre Independence Day parade

Get involved – how you can support the campaign

·         Make a donation to help fund our undercover investigations and campaign to end the use of performing animals

·         Sign up to our campaign eAlerts to keep informed, so that you can take action when needed

NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...

Bob Barker Spearheads ADI Campaign to End Elephant Suffering at Fairs

ADI has launched a nationwide initiative in the U.S. about the use of elephants giving rides, performances or making appearances at public events. At the heart of the campaign is a new DVD narrated by Emmy award winning TV host Bob Barker. Read more...

Oregon Zoo Secures Ownership of Baby Elephant Lily

Following a hard-fought media campaign by ADI, the Oregon Zoo has secured ownership of baby elephant Lily.
Read more...

Bob Barker urges Oregon Zoo to secure baby elephant Lily

Bob Barker lends support to ADI’s campaign ensuring Have Trunk Will Travel gives up baby elephant Lily. 
Read more…

Rose-Tu’s baby must not be handed to elephant abusers

An elephant born at Oregon Zoo could face a lifetime of misery at the hands of animal trainers Have Trunk Will Travel.
Read more...

Jorja Fox releases video to highlight Krissy’s plight

ADI Ambassador Jorja Fox (CSI) releases video for ADI telling the story of Krissy, an elephant torn from the wild in Africa
Watch here

Los Angeles County Fair ends elephant rides

L.A. County Fair ends elephant ride attraction after reviewing ADI’s footage of Have Trunk Will Travel.
Read more…

Fountain Valley Cancels Elephant Rides at Easter event

Fountain Valley cancels elephant rides for 2012 Easter Event after reviewing ADI’s Have Trunk Will Travel footage
Read more…

Orange County Fair ends elephant rides

The OC Fair Board cancels elephant rides after reviewing ADI’s footage of Have Trunk Will Travel.
Read more…

Santa Ana Zoo Ends Elephant Rides

Santa Ana Zoo cancels a 25 yr. contract with Have Trunk Will Travel after receiving ADI’s undercover footage.
Read more…

Sierra Madre Cancels Elephant Performance

Sierra Madre has cancelled Have Trunk Will Travel’s elephant performance at their 2011 Independence Day Event due to ADI’s footage. Read more....

New standards announced by Assoc. of Zoos & Aquariums

Shortly after ADI’s expose of Have Trunk Will Travel, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced new ‘Protected Care’ standards.
Read more…

Performing animals at events

ADI is opposed to the use of animals in all forms of entertainment, including their involvement in performances of large outdoor shows, theater productions, art installations, parades, renaissance fairs, and weddings.

Video evidence obtained by our field officers, combined with science-based research, have time and again shown that, despite reassurances to the contrary, abuse of performing animals is commonplace, usually occuring off set and behind the scenes.

Past campaigns to stop the use of performing animals

The Ski and Snowboard Show Held from 31 October until 3 November, 2012 at Earls Court 2 in London, this event booked five penguins to appear which the organizers say will be ”frolicking in their pen and out on the ice”. Read more...

Olympics opening ceremony: When it was announced that the London 2012 Olympics would feature over 100 animals in its opening ceremony, ADI joined forces with a coalition of animal protection groups to voice its opposition. Sadly, it was not possible to changed the organizers’ minds and the animals were exposed to huge crowds, high levels of noise and flashing lights, despite our concerns, and those of our supporters and many of the public. Read more…

GMB Union: In 2006, the GMB Union hired a live camel to stage a protest against AA owners’ Permira and CVC outside a London church. The camel was 30 years old and had to endure nearly six hours of travel in addition to the three-hour event itself. After being contacted by ADI, the union announced that they would not use animals in future. Read more…

ADI has also called on director Kevin Spacey to replace the rhesus macaque used in performances of Inherit The Wind at The Old Vic and UK councils to refuse permission for shows such as Apassionata, Ben Hur Live and art installations using live animals.