The Texas GOP convention this month featured an elephant, Paige, without the required city permit for bringing wild animals into Houston. This has raised concerns about public safety and animal welfare.
Permit Requirements
According to Houston’s code of ordinances, traveling zoos and expositions must apply for a permit 20 days before bringing wild animals, including elephants, to the city. The permit process involves providing liability insurance, written consent from the property owner, and proof of how the animal will be prevented from escaping and hurting people.
Trunks and Humps, the Montgomery County exhibitor that brought Paige to the convention, has been cited repeatedly for federal animal welfare violations. The company’s owner, Bill Swain, and other officials declined to respond to questions about why a permit was not obtained.
Animal Welfare Concerns
Animal welfare advocates have expressed concerns about the treatment of elephants in captivity, citing their complex communication systems, instincts to walk miles per day, and potential for great suffering. The use of bullhooks, which are banned in many jurisdictions, has also been criticized.
Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International, said that over 50 countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses and traveling shows, and that Texas is out of step with most modern democracies on this issue.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
