Vegetarian Star

The American Humane Association is able to certify that Tai, the elephant star in the Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon film Water For Elephants, was not harmed during the movie.

But animal rights group Animal Defenders International says it has undercover video footage showing Tai and several other elephants suffering at the hands of trainers employed by the company that provides animals to film sets, Have Trunk Will Travel.

The clip shows elephants being shocked with electric stun guns and beaten with bullhooks. A baby elephant is dragged by its trunk and trainers saw off the tusk of another elephant. The clip was shot in 2005, several years before Water For Elephants was made.

“I believe that Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson will be horrified to learn what Tai went through,” said ADI’s Jan Creamer.

“As this video shows, the reality is that this elephant was taught the tricks seen in the film by being given electric shocks.”

“Animal suffering is never romantic and it is never entertainment.”

TMZ attempted to get a statement from Have Trunk Will Travel, but its calls were not returned. A representative from the AHA, the organization monitoring animal care on the set of Water For Elephants has since made a statement.

“We were not present when this video was shot in 2005. We are not clear about all of the content of this video.”

“We hope with all our heart that the disturbing images on it are not what they appear to be. We know Tai, have worked with Tai, care about Tai and we have never witnessed any mistreatment of Tai.”

Watch below for yourself.

Movie star electric shocked from Animal Defenders on Vimeo.

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