A roughly 8,600-pound elephant named Paige became a focal point at the Texas Republican Party convention in Houston, where she appeared in a feathered headpiece during Gov. Greg Abbott’s speech at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The spectacle drew attention beyond the political gathering itself, reigniting debate over the use of elephants in public entertainment and political events. Paige was brought in by a traveling animal exhibitor based near Houston.

Traveling exhibitor Trunks and Humps under renewed criticism

Paige was supplied by Trunks and Humps, one of only a small number of remaining traveling elephant exhibitors in the United States.

The business, operated by Bill Swain, has faced decades of federal Animal Welfare Act violations, including incidents tied to human and animal safety risks. Records and past reports cited by animal welfare groups include a December incident in which a woman was reportedly kicked in the head by a camel at a church nativity event.

An undercover investigation by Animal Defenders International in 2004 also alleged severe mistreatment within the operation, including the use of a bullhook and physical abuse of elephants.

Viral moment at the convention raises further concerns

A widely shared video from the event showed Paige stopping on the convention floor and urinating during the gathering, drawing attention on social media.

In the footage, a handler is seen urging the elephant forward using a bullhook, a metal-tipped tool used in elephant training. Animal welfare advocates say the device can cause significant pain and is a key reason many jurisdictions have moved to restrict or ban its use.

Debbie Metzler of the PETA Foundation said the incident highlights deeper concerns about the conditions behind such performances. She said elephants used in spectacles often experience distress, adding that animals associated with political symbols should be treated with greater care.

History of controversy around traveling elephant acts

The use of elephants in entertainment has declined sharply in recent years. The country’s largest circus, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, ended its elephant performances in 2016 following years of undercover investigations and public pressure. The organization shut down entirely the following year.

Today, only a small number of exhibitors remain, with estimates from Humane World for Animals and PETA suggesting roughly a dozen elephants are still used in traveling shows across the U.S.

Expert concerns about animal welfare and public safety

Shelby Bobosky, an adjunct animal law professor at Southern Methodist University, said elephants have advanced cognitive and emotional capacities, including strong memory, complex social bonds, and highly sensitive hearing.

She noted that the convention environment—loud sounds, vibrations, crowds, and unfamiliar smells—can overwhelm such animals. Paige’s behavior at the event, including the urination incident, was described by Bobosky as a possible stress response to sensory overload.

Animal welfare advocates also argue that transporting elephants in confined trailers for long periods adds further strain and raises safety risks for both animals and the public.

Legal landscape and past inspection findings

As of 2026, about 12 U.S. states and roughly 200 local jurisdictions have enacted bans or restrictions on wild animal performances in circuses and traveling shows, according to Humane World for Animals.

In Texas, a 2021 proposal aimed at restricting direct public contact with exotic animals without a physical barrier failed to pass. Supporters of the measure, including law enforcement groups, cited both public safety and animal welfare concerns.

Inspection records and advocacy reports linked to Trunks and Humps include multiple past USDA-related violations, such as:

• A 2025 incident involving a camel attack at a public event
• A 2010 case involving unsafe public interaction with elephants
• A 2001 citation related to unattended elephants at a festival
• A 1998 inspection noting “extensive” foot cracks in an elephant and concerns about care conditions

Calls for retirement of captive elephants

Animal advocates continue to urge that elephants like Paige, Krissy, and Jeanie be retired to accredited sanctuaries where they would live in more natural environments and be shielded from public performances.

Paige, along with other elephants used by the exhibitor, is believed to have been captured in Africa decades ago and brought to the United States in the 1980s, according to information published by the operator.

As public debate intensifies, critics argue that modern standards of animal welfare are increasingly incompatible with the continued use of elephants in traveling entertainment and high-profile public events.