Boycott 'Water for Elephants' - Shocking Elephant Abuse Documented

[sixmile]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/11/water-for-elephants-animal-abuse-video_n_860792.html

'Perhaps it's sick irony that in a movie featuring animal abuse, the real behind-the-scenes story may be even worse than the fictitious version. Or maybe it's just plain sick.

KTLA's Lu Parker investigates undercover video documenting the alleged abuse of Tai, the elephant featured in the Reese Witherspoon/Robert Pattinson film, "Water For Elephants."

The footage, provided by Animal Defenders International (ADI), shows Tai and other elephants being abused by trainers from the company Have Trunk Will Travel. The footage reveals the elephants being beaten with bull hooks -- even a baby elephant is beaten over the head with a hook. The video also shows the elephants receiving electric shocks, and screaming out in pain.'

more at link including blood pressure-raising video

Wrong. Simply wrong.

[snagglepuss]

1. Kick nt

[likesmountains 52]

2. Kick..how sad is that?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MidwestTransplant]

4. I hope the CA Atty. General get's after them.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Conditioning by fear

Dangerous with elephants, not to mention EXTREMELY unethical.

This "Have Trunk Will Travel" group should be banned from making movies.

[flvegan]

6. Here's the thing...

I don't know a lot about this movie. If it exposes abuse, then there's something to that. However, ANYone that heads to a for-profit movie, circus or any other "entertainment" outlet that involves trained elephants, YOU are rewarding people for abusing them in horrific ways.

That's right. That ticket to "The Greatest Show on Earth" (for example) is just you paying people to entertain you by beating animals into submission. Be proud.

[Skip Intro]

12. Amen. nt

[MoonRiver]

18. Absolutely!

It's the same with marine mammals forced into slavery by Sea World and dolphinariums around the world.

[mitchtv]

7. isn't there an electronic picket line on Huffington?

sorry I don't cross lines... CWA

[Luminous Animal]

14. Thank you! I won't cross that virtual line either.

[druidity33]

26. I haven't been there since the "merger". nt.

[jillan]

8. I just saw this movie over the weekend. After seeing the movie and now finding out that elephant

was really abused makes me want to SCREAM!

The scenes of abuse were so hard to watch, I cannot believe they were abused in real life. So unbelievably cruel. Heart wrenching.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[DainBramaged]

10. Allegedly

DU, executioner for all crimes not related to bowing to the President...

[Enthusiast]

20. PLUS ONE...............nt

[Beaverhausen]

25. How do you think any animal is 'trained' for performance?

sadly, it happens far too often.

[themadstork]

9. Not only that but

the book was complete shit as well.

[Omaha Steve]

11. K&R!

[mysuzuki2]

13. anyone concerned about the abuse of elephants

should google The Elephant Sanctuary. They provide a home for abused elephants in Tennessee. Your donation will help.

[Festivito]

15. My date and I agreed the movie was not that good, this makes it seem even worse.

I have put it out of mind, except to warn others.

[mainer]

16. A way to help old circus elephants here:

A veterinarian who used to work in the circus as a kid wants to give these poor beasts a happy retirement.

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/04/20/news/man-hopes-to-bring-circus-elephant-to-maine/

[MoonRiver]

17. Hideous!

I didn't see it because I am opposed to using wild animals as slaves in any capacity, including movies.

[Enthusiast]

19. I just finished the book

yesterday evening.

I thought it was excellent. If you have not read 'Water for Elephants', I recommend it, highly.

I don't expect much from the movie. If elephants were abused in the making of the movie it greatly saddens me. It's just another bit of cruelty added to a world of ever increasing cruelty.

[fascisthunter]

21. the intelligence of creatures... those who beat animals are less intelligent

[RedCappedBandit]

22. Should've known better

can't believe I went to see it.

[Blue Owl]

23. Waterboarding For Elephants

Something tells me the GOP would be in favor of torturing even their own symbol.

[Kali]

24. video was made in 2005, not during filming of movie

right or wrong in terms of training/abuse (I haven't seen video - slow dial up), some misleading BS from the AR side, as usual.