Much has been made of the movie “Water for Elephants” which is now playing at cinemas around Australia. The American Humane Society states that ‘no animals were harmed during the making of the movie’ but what is not mentioned is that the beatings and abuse of Rosie (whose real name is Tai) and other circus animals had occurred during their training before the movie was made.
The company that trained ‘Rosie’ is Have Trunk Will Travel and they have categorically denied cruelty in training, however animal activists from Animal Defenders International have photographed abusive treatment of these poor creatures. There is no way you can train wild animals with positive reinforcement like dogs. They are forced to submit to their trainers who use electric prods as well as kicking them. Elephants are separated from their mothers at an early age and treated badly. They are unable to socialise with other elephants and endure painful injuries because they have to stand on one leg and are tethered to poles or caged most of the time.
Google ‘Water for elephants in boycott call’ and get video footage of Tai and other animals being mistreated and forced to do unnatural tricks to entertain people. I personally will be boycotting this movie.
Lesley Chapman
Port Macquarie
