Science Center won't be using Elephant in Bubble!

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Sometimes these idiots listen! But then, they thought we might harm some or thier guests because we are so evil. Sniff Sniff. http://www.latimes. com/news/ local/la- me-elephant15mar 15,0,6334034. storyBy Tony BarbozaLos Angeles Times Staff WriterMarch 15, 2008The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana has canceled acontroversial stunt in which an artist was to surround an Asianelephant in a giant soap bubble after critics threatened toprotest it as cruel and frivolous, the center announced thisafternoon."We wanted it to be good clean family fun, so we're taking away thepart that seemed negative," spokeswoman Julie Smith said, addingthat the

only change in plans is to take the elephant out ofTuesday's show.The science center began reconsidering the show after receiving morethan a thousand e-mails against it-- many with identical language--and numerous calls from animal advocates, said Leslie Perovich, vicepresident of marketing for the center. The animal-rights group InDefense of Animals and Bob Barker, the former host of "The Price isRight," were among those who objected to the show.Anticipating protesters, the center even called on the Santa AnaPolice Department to provide security backup.Smith said the center canceled not because it believed it was cruelor unscientific, as opponents have charged, but out of fear of beingbesieged by protesters."We were afraid someone with ulterior motives would have gotten intothe tent and caused harm to our guests," she said.Bubble artist Fan Yang hoped to set a record for the

largest livingland mammal in a bubble by surrounding the 8,800-pound pachyderm ina giant soapy orb for five to 10 seconds, but now he is reworkinghis plans, Smith said.The show was to feature Tai, an elephant from a ranch in Perris whowas at the center of another controversial performance in 2006 thatalso angered animal activists. British artist Banksy painted the39-year-old female in a red and gold pattern to blend into awallpaper background for an installation in a downtown Los Angeleswarehouse, illustrating the phrase "an elephant in the room."The general manager of the city of Los Angeles' Department of AnimalServices, Ed Boks, ordered the paint be washed of Tai and replacedwith children's face paint.This week, Boks opposed the bubble stunt, calling it "cruelty in theworst possible form."Others, including In Defense of Animals, said the Santa Ana show wasinappropriate for a scientific

institution.In a letter early this week, 11 zoo professionals assailed thecenter for planning to display an endangered species in a "trivialand sensationalist manner," calling it a "Vegas-style sideshow."The center has maintained that placing the elephant in a bubblewould not have been cruel, and said it decided to cancel because ofthe sharp reaction from the public."We base our exhibits on what the public wants to see, as long asthere's some science around that," Smith said. "We've overwhelminglyheard that this is not something they want."Bubblefest, the annual event the stunt was meant to promote, isstill scheduled to start Saturday. Tuesday's show, Smith said, willstill go on under a large circus-like tent in the center's parkinglot, with "billions of bubbles," but no elephant.What, if anything, might stand in for the creature, she couldn't say.tony.barboza@ latimes.com http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join