@Sugar Cookie
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...abbed-taunted-excited-tourists-Indonesia.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...abbed-taunted-excited-tourists-Indonesia.html
Animal handlers at a zoo in Indonesia have been caught abusing elephants and stabbing them with sharp objects to get them to perform for tourists, a wildlife charity claims.
Photographs show elephants having their tails pulled, and handlers punching them in the trunk while allegedly concealing sharp tools in their fists, at the Taman Safari zoo in Bogor on West Java, Indonesia.
While the shocking abuse takes place on the ground, an excited crowd of tourists are seen cheering on the elephant show from a balcony above.
The alleged abuse has been documented by wildlife charity Born Free, and photojournalist Aaron Gekoski, who claims the injuries to the elephants' trunks seen in his images were caused by handlers stabbing them to control them.
The alleged abuse appears to be taking place despite the zoo being a member of the World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which requires its members to treat all animals in their captivity with the utmost care.
Mr Gekoski said: 'Every day the elephants perform in shows which involve elaborate reconstructions of human and elephant conflict caused by the palm oil industry.
'After a show when we were there, the elephants became boisterous. A handler was seen to punch one on its trunks and pull its tail in order to control it.
'On closer inspection, it appeared the handler was concealing a sharp object in his hand, which caused multiple puncture wounds on the elephant's trunk.
[....]
'Security saw us documenting what was happening and asked us to put our cameras away.
'Elephants are much loved, intelligent and sentient beings that should not be ridden, touched or used in shows, and they most definitely should not be controlled using such violent means.
On the Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) website, the zoo claims to be a 'pioneer leader in conservation and recreational parks'.
Doug Cress, chief executive officer at WAZA, said: 'The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums believes that the welfare of the animals in our care is of great importance, and we hold our member zoos and aquariums to the highest standards in this regard.
'The WAZA Code of Ethics expressly prohibits activities that cause animals pain or compel them to act in an unnatural manner, and WAZA does not support shows that demean any animal.
'WAZA takes matters of animal welfare seriously and will investigate this situation fully.'
[....]
Dr Chris Draper, Head of Animal Welfare and Captivity at Born Free, said the charity had been concerned about the activities at Taman Safari for some time.
Dr Draper said they had received numerous complaints from tourists and members of the public visiting the zoo.
'The direct abuse of elephants reported is completely unacceptable and must be investigated by the relevant authorities.
'It is shocking that this zoo is listed as a member of WAZA, which claims to represent 'leading', 'high standard' zoos across the world, and apparently requires its members to 'ensure that they 'ensure that all animals in their care are treated with the utmost care and their welfare should be paramount all times'.
'These assurances begin to sound meaningless in light of the reported abuse and exploitation of elephants in shows and rides at one of their members zoo.'