Elephant Exhibitor Prohibited from Exploitative Shows at Colorado Renaissance Festival

Colorado passed a law in 2021 making it illegal for circuses and other abusive traveling acts to bring exotic animals into the state. However, the Colorado Renaissance Festival hosted the notorious elephant exhibitor Trunks & Humps, under the guise of “education,” for several seasons following the passage of the law. That came to an end when PETA teamed up with Compassion Works International and other organizations to stop Colorado Parks & Wildlife (“CPW”) from issuing the exhibitor a license. PETA’s email campaign turned up the pressure, and officials upheld the law and denied the license for Trunks & Humps, establishing precedent for an elephant-free Renaissance Festival for years to come!