Demand an end to Elephant and Camel Rides at the Maryland Renaissance Fair

I am a Maryland resident who recently enjoyed visiting the Renaissance Festival for the first time in many years. I was deeply disappointed, however, to see that even in 2017 the Festival offers elephant and camel rides. The elephant rides in particular concerned me. Other entertainment venues, including major circuses, have come to recognize the use of elephants for entertainment as inhumane and unethical, and have decided to stop using them. I hope that if we can get even 300 people to sign this petition and I send it to them, the Festival will re-consider the inclusion of this "attraction." It is certainly distressing to the animals involved, and unnecessary at an event which provides so many other wonderful forms of entertainment.