Colorado Parks and Wildlife denies Colorado Renaissance Festival elephant exhibit permit
(COLORADO) — The Colorado Renaissance Festival kicks off this upcoming weekend, Saturday, June 14, and it may be missing a show that has been on for years.
In early June, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) denied a permit for the exhibition of elephants, which would affect the Trunk and Humps show at the Colorado Renaissance Festival.
'Denying this permit was both the legally correct and moral decision,' said DU law professor Justin Marceau, Director of the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project. 'Colorado has admirably outlawed the degrading, abusive use of elephants and other animals in cruel traveling circuses. These animals deserve to be treated with dignity, not dragged from city to city and forced to perform tricks for our entertainment.'
According to the Colorado Renaissance Festival Vice President Jim Paradise, they became aware of the denial of the permit on Friday, June 6, and said they would be reaching out to the State on the matter.
'Various reports regarding the Renaissance Festival and its vendors regarding elephants at the site are misrepresentative and agenda-driven,' said Paradise. 'Since the passage of SB 21-135, in 2021, the Renaissance Festival has not offered elephant rides; footage used in a story published by CW2 pre-dates 2021, and that in and of itself is disappointing and falls far short of at least that media outlet's duty to the public. The Renaissance Festival is based around a 16th-century village with great entertainment, food, and fun; it offers a place for people to get away from the negativity that is generally pervasive in today's world.'
A Colorado law signed in 2021 prohibited a person from causing the performance of animals such as whales, rhinos, and elephants in a traveling animal act. If a person violates SB21-135, they could be subject to a fine ranging from $250 to $1,000 per violation.
'Following a flurry of calls and emails from members of PETA and Compassion Works International, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has denied Texas-based exotic animal exhibitor Trunks and Humps, the festival's longtime elephant provider, a permit to display elephants within Colorado,' said PETA in a statement.
CPW confirmed that the permit was denied.
'CPW is the agency that reviews applications for and, when appropriate, issues Temporary Exhibitors Licenses, a type of Commercial Wildlife Park License. Elephants fall under CPW's Commercial Wildlife Program, which refers to the use of captive wildlife for educational, commercial, or promotional purposes. The Trunks and Humps application for a Temporary Exhibitors License was denied by CPW because it did not meet the requirements,' said a spokesperson with CPW.
Paradise added that permits were issued by the State between 2022-2024 after the passage of SB21-35.
'The Renaissance Festival has worked and continues to work with Trumps and Humps in its ongoing and successful efforts in educating people on the history, research, and care of elephants,' Paradise said.
The Renaissance Festival begins on Saturday, June 14. The festival will run until Aug. 3 and will occur on Saturdays and Sundays only.
'The Renaissance Festival is based around a 16th-century village with great entertainment, food, and fun,' Paradise said. 'It offers a place for people to get away from the negativity that is generally pervasive in today's world.'
As of June 9, the Trunks and Humps show is not listed on the Colorado Renaissance Festival website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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