South African elephant park accused of 'horrific' cruelty after video shows young animals being chained, shocked with electric cattle prods and hit with bulls hooks

Elephants were abused 'so they would obey humans', welfare group claims

Video footage of cruelty taken at South Africa's Elephants of Eden park

Anyone convicted in relation to case could face up to three years in jail

By JULIAN ROBINSON

PUBLISHED: 07:59, 21 May 2014 | UPDATED: 17:45, 21 May 2014

Baby elephants were shocked with electric cattle prods and hit with bull hooks during cruel training sessions at a South African wildlife park, it has been claimed.

The abuse, which included chaining and roping calves and juvenile animals, was captured in 'horrific' video footage taken at Elephants of Eden in the Eastern Cape, according to a prominent animal rights group.

Trainers used the methods 'to break the animals' spirit so that they would obey humans,' the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) claims.

A frame from the video shows a man riding on to the back of a young elephant. The animal's back leg is chained down while its front leg is roped up and stretched forward

'The elephants show signs of crippling injuries with severely swollen legs and feet, debilitating abscesses and wounds,' National Council of SPCA's inspector Wendy Willson said.

The video was taken on the premises of the park where the beasts were being trained for elephant-back safaris, she said.

'The calculated and premeditated cruelty of this nature that took place at this facility is a far cry from the loving sanctuary image that Elephants of Eden/Knysna Elephant Park like to portray,' she added.

Read more:

Low Rainfall and Extreme Temperatures Double Risk of Baby Elephant Deaths

Feb. 4, 2013 — Extremes of temperature and rainfall are affecting the survival of elephants working in timber camps in Myanmar and can double the risk of death in calves aged up to five, new research from the University of Sheffield has found.

With climate change models predicting higher temperatures and months without rainfall; this could decrease the populations of already endangered Asian elephants.

The researchers matched monthly climate records with data on birth and deaths, to track how climate variation affects the chances of elephant survival.

It is hoped this research -- which was published in the journal Ecology -- will make a difference by highlighting the importance of protecting vulnerable calves in captivity from the effects of climate change

Experts at the University of Sheffield accessed unique recordings of the life and deaths of more than 8,000 elephants from Myanmar spanning three generations throughout almost a century.

The elephants in the database are semi-captive animals working in the timber industry by pushing and dragging logs.

Read on:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130204095934.htm

Rescue of four baby elephants in two weeks highlights increased poaching threat in Kenya

Elephants will be raised for release into the wild

October 2012. Four orphaned baby elephants have been rescued in the last two weeks in Kenya by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) - suggesting that poaching levels are continuing to rise.

The charity, which will protect and raise the baby elephants through an adoption programme run with the support of UK charity Care for the Wild, has now rescued 28 baby elephants in 2012 alone.

Three orphaned by poachers
Three of the elephants are reported to be victims of poaching for the illegal ivory trade, left alone after their mothers were killed by poachers. The fourth elephant Lemoyian, was rescued from a man-made well having fallen and become trapped.

Philip Mansbridge, Chief Executive of Care for the Wild, said: "This is fantastic work by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. These orphans have the ‘awww' factor, but we must also focus on the big picture - poaching is at record levels, and if the international community doesn't do something to stop it, there won't be anything left to rescue."

As poaching continues to escalate, elephant numbers have fallen from 1.3 million in 1979 to an estimated 400,000. Presently up to 36,000 elephants are being killed every year for their tusks, left unchecked, this level of poaching would see wild elephants in Africa disappear by 2025.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/orphan-elephants.html