LOS ANGELES – Animal activists are furious that an elephant was spray-painted for an art exhibit protesting world poverty.

The elephant, named Tai, was given a floral, nontoxic paint job for the Thursday opening of the “Barely Legal” exhibit by British artist Banksy at a warehouse near downtown. The exhibit is to run through Sunday, with the elephant on hand.

Cards handed out at the opening, which included guests such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, read: “There's an elephant in the room. There's a problem we never talk about. The fact is that life isn't getting any fairer. ... Twenty-billion people live below the poverty line.”

“I think it sends a very wrong message that abusing animals is not only OK, it's an art form,” said Ed Boks, head of the city's Animal Services Department. “We find it no longer acceptable to dye baby chicks at Easter, but it's OK to dye an elephant.”

Boks said his agency issued permits for the elephant to appear, but he tried to have them revoked late Friday on grounds of public safety. However, the revocation would need five days and the exhibit would be over by then, he said.

“Permits will not be issued for such frivolous abuse of animals in the future,” he said.

Tai's owner denied that the 38-year-old Indian elephant, who lives on a Perris ranch, had been abused.

“Tai has done many, many movies. She's used to makeup,” said Kari Johnson, who with her husband co-owns the company “Have Trunk, Will Travel.”

Bill Dyer, a regional director of the group In Defense of Animals, went to see the animal at the exhibit Friday afternoon.

“It didn't seem the elephant was under stress,” Dyer said. “There were carrots and things, but it's another example of our exploitation of animals – so gimmicky and unnecessary.”