/ 10 September 1998

Young elephants mistreated – SPCA

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 9.00pm.

THE Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has alleged that young elephants from Botswana are being ill-treated in a warehouse near Johannesburg.

SPCA director Marcelle French claimed the elephants were tied together by their front legs and that one front leg and one back leg were chained. “These elephants are destined to be sold and exported for working or exhibition purposes,” French said.

The elephants were undergoing “Mahout-style” training that involved repeatedly hitting them on the head with a metal training hook.

She said the National Wildlife Unit escorted by police visited the warehouse two weeks ago. “A court interdict was then brought against the SPCA to prevent video footage of what was uncovered being made public through the media”. French said the SPCA needs public support to fight the ill treatment of the elephants.

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