Abuse is Not Entertainment

Comments Off on Abuse is Not Entertainment August 3rd, 2023

Mike Swain of Trunks and Humps, the elephant and camel supplier for rides at the MN Renaissance Festival, has been filmed by Animal Defenders International beating elephants during training.

ADI previously released a video about the suffering behind the rides, ‘No Fun for Elephants’, with award-winning TV legend Bob Barker, who observed: “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?” The video includes shocking scenes of violence during training and handling of elephants supplied by Trunks and Humps of Conroe, TX, and Have Trunk Will Travel (previously of Perris, CA, and now operating as The Preserve in Fredericksburg, TX).

The Animal Rights Coalition urge Scott County Commissioners and the MN Renaissance Festival to no longer allow elephant and camel rides at this year’s festival and all future events. Elephant rides have been abandoned by organizers of several events after boards viewed the evidence, including Kansas City Renaissance Festival, the city of Fountain Valley, CA, Santa Ana Zoo, and Orange County, Kern County, San Diego County, Nevada County, and Los Angeles County Fairs. We are confident that if the public are given the facts and understand the cost to the animals, they will say “no” to the suffering.

You can help by writing a polite message to the festival owner asking him to make it their policy not to have performing elephants or other animals.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival:
Contact: Jim Peterson, Owner of Mid-America Festivals
Address: 1244 South Canterbury Road, Shakopee, MN 55379
Email: info@renaissancefest.com
Phone: 612-332-5600

Film – No Fun For Elephants: https://youtu.be/QYjrjQ_SGAk

Sign the petition to end the use of elephants as entertainment at the MN Renaissance Festival: https://www.change.org/p/jim-peterson-end-the-use-of-elephants-as-an-entertainment-in-the-minnesota-renaissance-festival