PERRIS, Calif. -- A Las Vegas showman attempted Tuesday to set a Guinness World Record by enclosing an elephant in a soap bubble.

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Guinness Book Of Records

Fan Yang, of the Mega Bubble Show, was scheduled to perform March 18 at the Discovery Science Center. The center postponed Yang's first attempt after animal rights activists protested.

Activists said the event used an animal in a "trivial and sensationalist manner," according to the Press-Enterprise newspaper.

A special rectangular device lifted the bubble Tuesday morning around the 4-ton elephant, named Tai.

"I made it a couple of times," Yang said. "The bubble was about one foot above the elephant. We will look at the pictures and the footage. I think the third one will work out well."

Yang said the picture will be sent to Guinness officials, who will determine whether he set a record.

Yang described himself as a "bubble artist and bubble scientist" who has studied the "world of bubbles for the last 23 years."

The event was part of BubbleFest XII at Discovery Science Center.