UN INT Intro Text w/ Responsive Image - *Important Note* You must UNLINK this shared library component before making page-specific customizations.
The Museum of the Southwest in Midland, Texas, plans to force an elephant to paint, take photos with the public, and perform other circus-style tricks at an upcoming fundraising event. Elephants used in these traveling acts have suffered a lifetime of abuse and should be retired to an accredited sanctuary. Please take action below by telling the museum's leadership to abandon traveling wild animal acts!
Making elephants “paint” is not scientific, nor is it art. Elephants used for entertainment are forced into these activities under the threat of a bullhook—a sharp weapon that resembles a fireplace poker—so they know to expect pain if they don’t follow commands. No reputable facility would haul elephants to an event and force them to perform circus-style tricks. “Pachyderm painting” is clearly a money grab with no concern for the animal’s well-being.
Yet, the art- and science-based Museum of the Southwest is ignoring all of the suffering the elephants have gone through and all the continuous damage that will be done to the elephants’ physical and mental health for their SeptemberFest fundraiser.
Use the form below to speak up on behalf of elephants used for entertainment and demand that the Museum of the Southwest abandon this ill-conceived part of their fundraiser.