...there will be no bubble after all.

The bubble in question was to be a giant bubble encasing show-elephant Tai as part of Santa Ana's Discovery Science Center's upcoming "Bubblefest" event.

Due to overwhelming public objection, artist Fan Yang will not get the chance to set a world record for the largest bubble blown that holds a large animal--and really, how often do those opportunities come along? (One may wonder how someone practices for such a feat; do they blow bubbles around cement mixers and sailboats?)

In fact, an impressive number activists and folks who just couldn't bear the thought of a soap bubble surrounding a pachyderm expressed their dismay. "A spokeswoman says the center received more than 2,000 e-mails and 75 phone calls in opposition to the event. The animal rights group In Defense of Animals and former Price is Right host Bob Barker reportedly were among those who objected," reports cbs2.com.

Yang will still be blowing bubbles as part of the fest, but Tai has been rescued from the menacing embrace of elephantine exploitation by a caring public. And Bob Barker.

"Bubblefest" runs now through April 6th at the Discovery Science Center, whose website features a troubling photo of two young children...encased in a giant bubble. Why wasn't this madness stopped?

Photo by Zanastardust via Flickr