Getting a rise out of the elephants

Deirdre Newman

It’s one of the quintessential fair experiences and no matter how

many times you take the bumpy elephant ride, it’s still a thrill.

Even for a sophisticated 10-year-old such as Nicole Kent of Costa

Mesa.

“I thought it was kind of fun, even though I’m older,” Nicole

said.

The elephant ride attracted a steady stream of fans during Kids

Day at the Orange County Fair on Tuesday as children and adults

clamored to climb up to the regal seat atop the pachyderms. Rosie, an

18-year-old, and Becky, a 15-year-old, patiently lumbered around the

tent over and over again throughout the day.

As the mercury rose at the fairgrounds, the two elephants kept

cool with their distinctive cooling mechanism -- flapping their ears.

As their floppy ears wave back and forth, the motion cools and

circulates the blood throughout their body like a radiator, explained

Kari Johnson, owner of Have Trunk, Will Travel, which is providing

rides at the fair for the 12th year.

Signs in front of the rides refer to the Asian elephants as being

endangered species. There are only about 35,000 to 40,000 of these

animals left in the world, Johnson lamented.

“The reason they’re endangered is because of the loss and

destruction of their habitat,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of human

and elephant conflict in Asia. They’re fighting over the same food.”

For many fairgoers, seeing an elephant up close and personal is a

first.

And riding one is a downright adventure, said Anthony Barney, 10 ,

visiting from Michigan.

“It was fun because she kept tilting to the side,” said Anthony,

as he imitated the wave-like motions of the elephant.

Although the ride is a short jaunt around the tent, the elephants

have a way of endearing themselves to the riders long beyond the fair

itself, Johnson said.

“They have a way of touching people,” Johnson said. “The elephants

get e-mails and birthday cards from the kids.”