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Source: KNBC TV
Los Angeles, California USA
POSTED: 8:52 am PDT March 12, 2008
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A plan to envelop an 8,800-pound elephant in a bubble for a few seconds at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana next week has the animal rights community up in arms.
The 39-year-old elephant in question, Tai, is no stranger to fame, with 20 movie credits, TV commercials and appearances at corporate parties on her resume.
"She has such a reputation that people ask for her by name," Kari Johnson, a co-owner of Have Trunk Will Travel, told the Los Angeles Times. The company operates a ranch in Perris for nine endangered Asian elephants, which often work in show business.
Bubble artist Fan Yang plans to briefly envelop the elephant in a giant soapy bubble at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana for five to 10 seconds on Tuesday as part of the center's annual Bubblefest, according to The Times. The stunt is intended to set a world record for the largest living land mammal in a bubble.
"It's cruelty in the worst possible form in that it says it's not only acceptable, it's an art form," L.A. Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks told The Times. Though he has no say over the Santa Ana event, Boks said, "I think that's the wrong message to be sending."
The science center is defending the show as educational, adding that the stunt has been performed a number of times on humans, according to The Times.
"We don't think it's cruelty," Leslie Perovich, vice president of marketing for the center, told the newspapers. "It's a great opportunity to get people excited about bubbles and science."
