8/27/26 - Tell South Dakota State Fair: Cancel the Elephant Encounters

The South Dakota State Fair is advertising elephant encounters throughout its September 2–7 fair.

Calling a commercial elephant act “educational” does not make it humane. Using elephants for staged behaviors and public entertainment is exploitation repackaged as an “experience.”

While CWI cannot yet confirm which elephants will appear, we suspect Kelly and Isla may be used given their recent appearance at a Wisconsin fair.

Tell fair officials to cancel the elephant encounters and commit to keeping future South Dakota State Fairs elephant-free.

TAKE ACTION