OWN CORRESPONDENT, Brits | Tuesday 6.15pm.
THE 30 young elephants being held by African Games Services near Brits are not stressed or under-watered, according to Onderstepoort veterinary scientist Professor Henk Bertschinger.
The elephants have been mistreated, according to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which wants the animals removed from African Game Services. The elephants were captured in the Tuli game reserve in Botswana, which is struggling with elephant over-population and cannot take them back. They are being trained for the circus.
Bertschinger was cross-examined on Tuesday afternoon and asked to explain the results of blood samples submitted into evidence on Tuesday morning, which are said to show that the animals are not stressed or dehydrated, and are in good health.
Bertschinger said that blood cortisol and adrenaline levels increase markedly in animals on relocation, but return to normal once they are accustomed to new surroundings. The cortisol and adrenaline levels in the six blood samples examined were normal.
The blood samples were taken shortly after exposure to the Indonesian mahouts who are training them, and whom the NSPCA alleges are mistreating them. This implies that the elephants are not stressed by the presence of the mahouts.
Bertschinger also testified that the elephants are given water daily, and could in any case survive for some time without water.
The NSPCA’s first witness, elephant expert Dr Joyce Poole of Kenya, will testify on Wednesday.
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