Elephants and other animals have long been used in entertainment with the travelling circus being the primary focus of such exploitation. Yet, elephants are also commercially exploited in Las Vegas shows, in road-side shows, in films, in silly publicity gimmicks and by companies marketing their merchandise. Frivolous stunts have included covering an elephant in paint, putting an elephant inside the world's largest bubble and making an elephant wave goodbye.

To perform in this manner elephants are trained and transported around in the same manner as for the circus - in fact these elephants usually have performed in the circus. The bad examples are numerous - thousands of elephants and other animals suffer each year to entertain and market activities and products aimed at you. This is not only about more or less scrupolous owners, but about the consequences of using elephants in activities where strong discipline and brutality is the only way to keep control.

Forcing elephants to act in unnatural ways for commercial gain is abusive, backward and in bad taste - especially when there are good alternatives. The animations embedded and linked below show what's possible with today's computer and software technology. There is no reason for abusing elephants, or other animals for that matter.

ElephantVoices' standpoint is that the use of trained elephants in commercial marketing is abusive and should be forbidden.

You can help us to influence companies that use elephants in commercials and other marketing activities in two ways:

1. Tell them that as a consumer you do not approve of live animals being exploited in marketing.
2. Inform them that computer animation can be an attractive and charming alternative! (Check below).