‘Switched at Birth’ Star Warns of Elephant Danger

Published July 13, 2011 by PETA Staff. Last Updated October 14, 2013.

< 1 min read

Actor and mom Constance Marie has fired off a letter to Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido to ask that he put an end to the elephant rides at the Santa Ana Zoo. Constance, who stars in ABC Family’s new show Switched at Birth, was sickened after watching video footage of trainers with Have Trunk Will Travel—who provide the elephants for the rides—as they beat elephants with bullhooks and shocked them with electric prods.

Says Constance, “Every swing of the trainers’ bullhooks and jab of the electric prods horrified me, and seeing a baby elephant scream in pain each time a sharp bullhook is jabbed into his mouth was simply heartbreaking.”

Please add your voice to Constance Marie’s by asking the mayor of Santa Ana to stop the rides once and for all.

Written by Jennifer O’Connor

Get PETA Updates

Recent Posts

peta2 rewards illustration of animals with pastel background

Calling All Young People: Help Animals and Win Exclusive Rewards—Here’s How!

Taking action for animals is its own reward, but if you’re between the ages of 13 and 24, you can also earn exclusive perks with peta2. Here’s how to join for free today.

Take Action

although not at a Johns Hopkins lab, this beagle kept behind bars for experimentation shows how nearly 65,000 dogs are imprisoned in U.S. laboratories each year

Lab Horrors at Johns Hopkins: NIH Flubs Investigation; PETA Urges Action

Heard about the horrific history of animal testing in Johns Hopkins labs? PETA reveals how the university is getting away with murder—and who their accomplice is.

Take Action

Horse Dies on Track at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Auction—PETA Investigator Assaulted, Robbed by Staff for Filming

A 2-year-old horse just died on the track at an Ocala Breeders’ Sales show auction—find out why track staff assaulted a PETA investigator for filming this avoidable carnage.

Take Action

Alicia and Bear Silverstone run out of a biology lab with several frogs. Text reads "Cut Class, Not Frogs! Empower your kids to say NO to animal dissection"

Why Animal Dissection Is So Last Century: Alicia Silverstone and Bear Speak Out

Alicia Silverstone’s message is clear: It’s time to say, “As if!” to animal dissection and embrace a compassionate and effective way to teach biology.

Take Action

White House Egg Roll Used 64,000 Eggs Amid Rising Bird Flu Fears

Should the White House be using eggs in the annual egg roll amid the biggest bird flu outbreak in history? PETA cracks down on the vile egg industry.

Take Action