Movie Star Electric Shocked

Video released by Animal Defenders International shows the elephant that appears alongside Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in the new film Water for Elephants, being beaten and electric-shocked during training.

Water for Elephants, a romantic drama set in a 1930s animal circus in the USA, starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, is premiering all over the world this month, with the London Premier last Tuesday. But the biggest star of the film is 42-year-old Asian elephant Tai, who plays Rosie, supplied by the performing animal supplier Have Trunk Will Travel, of California.

In the film Rosie, played by Tai, is brutally attacked by the circus owner who beats her with a bull hook. But the producers, stars, and trainers have been at pains to stress that Tai was trained with kindness, marshmallows, and positive reinforcement.

Gary Johnson, a founder of Have Trunk Will Travel claimed: "Tai was never hit in any way at all".

American Humane observed the animal action during filming and said: "We're here observing prep on Water for Elephants and so we're here to make sure that everybody knows that not only the action on set but also the prep is humanely done, all these animals have been treated fairly and humanely throughout the entire course of their training."

However shocking video, filmed at Have Trunk Will Travel in 2005, has been posted online by Animal Defenders International (ADI) after the London premier, that tells a different story.

- Elephants including Tai are repeatedly given electric shocks with hand held stun guns
- Tai cries out when being shocked into performing a headstand
- Elephants including Tai are beaten about the body and legs with bull hooks
- A baby elephant is hooked in the lip and cries out
- An elephant is pinned with bull hooks whilst her tusks are sawn down, close to the bone

Jan Creamer, Chief Executive of ADI said: "We were uncomfortable with the message of this film, but the more we saw the repeated assertions that this elephant has been treated with love and affection and never been abused, we realized that we had to get the truth out. The public, the stars and the filmmakers have been duped. This poor elephant was trained to do the very tricks you see in the film by being given electric shocks."

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[SanSanMuMu]

So cruel. Greedy people, such a disgrace.

[TrunkTalk]

When Hollywood needs an elephant, Have Trunk Will Travel is who they call. Want to put an elephant in a bubble? Give us a call. Want to throw fruit at an elephant on the Ellen show? Give us a call. They are a disgrace.

[edtoy dupont]

c'est dans les fesses avec une bonne poignée de gros sel que l'on devrait leur infligé a ces  monstres !!!!

[MegaSaddened]

BEYOND HORRIBLE...MY GOD WHY AREN'T THEY OUT OF BUSINESS?

[ChimpChop]

The abuse goes on all their life while they're performing.Any time they don't move fast enough, or disobey,they'll be hit.I've seen circus elephants have the bullhooks jabbed in their ears just for touching another elephant while in the ring! They are reduced to being performing robots. When we stop supporting it with our money, the cruelty ends!

[lulabear7]

Jesus Christ. Had no idea she was abused to train her. And the baby??? Precious little thing being hurt so early in its life. I would really like to see the training of wild animals for human entertainment abolished for good. Goodbye circus! Life in the wild or protected on a reserve is what these magnificent creature's deserve. What is wrong with the humane society??? Must have got a nice chunk of change for keeping that dirty little secret...

[Audrey Mealiff]

Look at that poor elephant's terrified eye when they take that hacksaw to her, and drag her mouth back with the hook! Horrific in the extreme!

[VG Bio]

SHOCKING AND REVOLTING! those animals should be free in the wild!

[cassmo451]

And why should I trust you when you can't even make an argument without calling people horrible names? If you treat other people like that how do you treat animals? Sorry I'm just saying that I can't trust this video. Especially when I've seen video on how differently they treat Tai as well. You are correct I wasn't there to see her trained. But were you? Can you honestly say that you saw her in person to argue against her treatment? Because this video is NOT her.

[HairBallaz]

What makes you think Tai was treated fairly, moron? where you there when she was being 'trained'? I'm sure they educate people on Asian elephants, i.e how to dominate a huge animal using torture. Ur a stupid prick in self denial.

[HairBallaz]

Americans are just cruel bastards.

[Olimpia963]

Human filth...