Animal activists groups will be asking the San Diego County Fair governing board to extinguish all business relationships with Have Trunk will Travel of Perris. Have Trunk will Travel is known for their animal cruelty that is portrayed in a video taken during elephant training. At one point in this video, one of the trainers spoke out, “Don’t you be takin’ pictures of me hookin’ on them.” This was a video taken that trainers were aware of, it only leads to speculation as to how severe the animal abuse would have become, had there been no cameras present.

The Del Mar 22^nd District agricultural board will be meeting on Tuesday to discuss and determine whether they plan to continue their contract with Have Trunk will Travel of Perris. Have trunk will Travel has been their elephant supplier for elephant rides for 27 years. Have Trunk will Travel supplies elephants to other major fairs including Orange County and Los Angeles County. In addition they also supply their elephants to the Santa Ana Zoo.

Many Animal Activist groups feel that elephant rides should be prohibited completely, however the likelihood of this happening will be slim as elephant rides have been a tradition for several decades. I myself, have fond memories of climbing atop an oversized elephant and laughing with every exaggerated step around the circled ring. For this reason I am torn, I certainly can see where they’re coming from and understand the activist point. Though there’s still that part of nostalgia that would sadden me should elephant rides be gone forever. That being said, I certainly hope that Tuesdays meeting ends all connections with Have Trunk will Travel and the Fair Association is able to find a kinder and more professional elephant supplier.