Elephants, which have been part of the Colorado Renaissance Festival for decades, will not be at this year’s show when it kicks off June 14.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife denied the permit for elephant shows at the weekslong festival in Larkspur, according to a news release Thursday from PETA, the animal rights organization.

The permit was denied after the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law threated to sue Parks and Wildlife for going against the 2021 Colorado Traveling Animal Protection Act, PETA said in the release. 

The Colorado Traveling Animal Protection Act bans the use of elephants and other specific animals in traveling shows.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife has finally stepped up and stopped allowing Trunks and Humps to illegally exhibit these elephants,” said Meghan Tiemann, a captive wildlife specialist with PETA.

Trunks and Humps, the Texas-based vendor for the elephant show, has performed at the Colorado Renaissance Festival for decades, according to Jim Paradise, vice president and director of marketing with the festival.

The organization has been able to perform despite the Colorado Traveling Animal Protection Act by claiming the shows are intended for educational purposes, according to PETA’s news release.

“We are going to reach out to the state to see why the permit was not renewed, and what needs to be done to get Trunks and Humps back for the next festival season,” Paradise said. 

Trunks and Humps has been accused of animal cruelty by several organizations over the past decade.

Bill Swain, owner of Trunks and Humps, has faced accusations of using bull hooks, sharp implements resembling a fireplace poker, to manipulate elephants into performing tricks. Swain is accused of stabbing elephants in sensitive areas, such as their faces, trunks and feet, to provoke them to perform, according to the news release.

Swain denies abuse allegations.

“We get inspected regularly by the USDA, and they are licensed veterinarians,” Swain said.

“They are qualified — animal activists are not qualified,” he added.

The elephants used for Trunks and Humps circus shows were captured from Africa more than 40 years ago and have been performing since infants, according to PETA. Trunks and Humps frequents Texas and Minnesota renaissance festivals. 

“There is no education in forcing these animals to do things they would never do in the wild,” Tiemann said. “These performances are done under the threat of violence.”

Trumps and Humps using bull hook on elephant

Colorado is one of six states that has a ban on exotic animal circus shows. 

The Colorado Renaissance Festival is open each weekend from June 14 to Aug. 3.