Elephants giving rides at this year’s Minnesota Renaissance Festival were abused, says Animal Defenders International

Press Release (ePRNews.com) - Shakopee, MN - Aug 18, 2017 - Elephants supplied for rides at this year’s Minnesota 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?”

Elephant rides at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, (which shares the same ownership with this Minnesota event) were canceled this year. However, a representative for the Minnesota Festival said the closure doesn’t reflect a company-wide policy change and they have invited the same elephant provider back for this season, which opens this Saturday, August 19 and runs every weekend thru Oct 1.

ADI is urging the Minnesota 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 August 26, 2017, local supporters of ADI and the Animal Rights Coalition will be outside the Minnesota Renaissance Festival urging visitors to enjoy the festival but not support the elephant rides.

WHAT:

Elephant ride outreach at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

WHEN: Saturday, August 26, 2017, 11:00am

WHERE:

Minnesota Renaissance Festival
3525 145th St W, Shakopee, MN 55379
(Hwy 169 entrance)
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.