The owners of a circus elephant will go on trial on Monday charged with causing unnecessary suffering.
Bobby and Moira Roberts are accused of keeping Anne, a 58-year-old elephant brought from Sri Lanka to the Bobby Roberts Super Circus in Peterborough in the 1950s, chained to the ground at all times.
They are also accused of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating Anne. The pair, of Brook Farm, Oundle, Northamptonshire, deny causing the elephant unnecessary suffering, failing to take reasonable steps to prevent an employee from causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the elephant's needs were met.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) took over the prosecution of the couple from Animal Defenders International (ADI) - a worldwide animal welfare organisation - "given the public concern over the case".
The charges have been brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Speaking at the time the pair were charged last November, a CPS spokesman said: "Given the public concern over the case, the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has now agreed that the CPS take over and continue the legal proceedings against the Roberts."
They were originally the focus of a private prosecution by ADI, following its undercover investigation and filming between 21 January and 15 February.
But ADI's legal representatives contacted the CPS, asking it to take over the prosecution.
Jan Creamer, ADI's chief executive, has called it a landmark test case.
She said: "The background to the case is the suffering of Anne.
"ADI conducts investigations into the use of animals in commercial circumstances, especially entertainment like circuses, and we've been monitoring Anne for some years.
"Really this is a test case for us because, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, owners of animals have a duty of care to provide their animal with protection from harm and a suitable environment."
Anne, who is arthritic, is living at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire to see out her days in a 13-acre paddock, with her owners' consent.
The trial is listed until Friday and will move to Kettering magistrates court from Tuesday.