One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Santa Ana Zoo Will No Longer Offer Elephant Rides
Photo of an elephant ride at the Santa Ana Zoo in 2002 by The Consortium via Flickr
Allegations of animal abuse prompted an investigation into the elephant rides offered at the Santa Ana Zoo, and now several months after video purporting to show that abuse came to light, the Zoo has announced they will no longer offer elephant rides.
However, points out the OC Register, the investigation did not make a ruling on the footage, but rather led to a decision to end the rides "based on a policy change by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums," according to Santa Ana city parks director Gerardo Mouet.
In order for the Zoo to keep its AZA accreditation, the rides must stop, because the safety policy of the organization stipulates "zookeepers not share space with an elephant without a protective barrier between them."
In addition to the rule change and the video footage, protesters have spoken out against the Zoo in objection to their practice of offering animal rides.
The rides at the Santa Ana Zoo were offered by a business called Have Trunk Will Travel. They describe themselves as a privately-funded and "a family of people that truly cares about the well being of elephants."
In 2008, the Santa Ana Zoo also came under fire from animal activists who were upset the venue was hosting an event involving an elephant being surrounded by a giant soap bubble. That same elephant, Tai, was the elephant painted by Banksy and put on display at a controversial art show in Los Angeles.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
