Tell The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) To Ban Elephant Rides In Florida.

At the FWC meeting that took place in Cape Canaveral on October 3, 2019, FWC staff presented new rule changes for elephant rides. The FWC held workshops throughout Florida on the topic of elephant rides in both 2018 and 2019. Public comment was recorded at these meetings and via an online comment form. One thousand two hundred comments were submitted, and of those 1,200 comments, 80% called for a ban of elephant rides.

The new revisions presented to the FWC Commissioners call for specified barriers that prevent unauthorized individuals from making contact with the elephants and updates on educational requirements. Absent from the revised rules is anything about the treatment and welfare of elephants. It is disheartening that in this day and age, the welfare of elephants was completely exempt from the draft rule changes, and the majority (80%) of commenters that requested a ban were ignored.

The profound intelligence of elephants is undeniable, and yet as a society, we continue to demean this species through proclaimed education and conservation efforts. We can assure you that riding an elephant is not educational and does nothing to preserve the integrity of their future survival.

Please contact the FWC Commissioners and let them know anything less than a ban is unacceptable. https://myfwc.com/contact/fwc-staff/senior-staff/commissioners/