PETA wants Texas A&M to change 90-year-old tradition

PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has asked Texas A&M University-College Station to stop using live elephants during the traditional Elephant Walk. PETA claims the tradition is "archaic" and supports "industry of cruelty and abuse." less PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has asked Texas A&M University-College Station to stop using live elephants during the traditional Elephant Walk. PETA claims the tradition is "archaic" ... more Photo: Twitter Screenshots Photo: Twitter Screenshots Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close PETA wants Texas A&M to change 90-year-old tradition 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO – Animal activist group PETA has called out Texas A&M University on its use of elephants in the traditional Elephant Walk, and demands the university removes the animals from the ceremony.

PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, made the request on its website because the walk is "an archaic tradition of exploiting elephants and supporting an industry of cruelty and abuse," the organization states.

Texas A&M did not return a request for comment.

The Elephant Walk honors seniors and takes place before the last regular football game of the season. On the day of the walk, seniors meet at Kyle Field and walk throughout campus, stopping at three sites for yell practices. They then meet at the bonfire site at on the Polo Fields, where they take photographs with the elephants.

PETA adds that using elephants for rides, photo opportunities and publicity stunts denies "everything that is natural and important to them." The organization also notes that many handlers force elephants to perform by using a sharp tool called a bullhook to strike the animals on sensitive body parts.

"There is no excuse for an institution of higher education to be promoting cruelty, especially among this generation of compassionate and socially aware students," the website states.

"Like dying elephants, which wander the jungle looking for a place to die after their value to the herd is over, thousands of seniors will join hands and wander aimlessly about campus visiting landmarks for the symbolic 'last time,'" the tradition's webpage states.

rsalinas@mysa.com