The elephant protection project
UPDATE: Scott Riddle has now been banned from visiting Blackpool Zoo and handling the elephants. In December 1999, the Captive Animals Protection Society revealed that Katie and Crumple, two female Asian elephants at Blackpool Zoo had been electric shocked during training. The elephants, like many zoo and safari park elephants in the UK, have been trained to perform tricks to entertain zoo visitors. In 1998, an Elephant Training Seminar was held at Blackpool Zoo. In charge, was Scott Riddle, an American elephant trainer. In a letter to the American Zoological Society dated December 1999, Pat Derby of PAWS writes:
The elephant handlers course The Elephant Handlers Course was held at Blackpool Zoo in September 1998. It was attended by keepers from UK zoos and Safari parks. Representatives from Woburn, Whipsnade, Longleat and West Midlands Safari Parks and Twycross zoo attended. Blackpool zoos elephant keeping staff were also present. The curriculum included proper use of chains, proper use of rope, elephant training and elephant breeding. CAPS decided to investigate and expose the methods Scott Riddle use to train elephants. We put an investigator on the elephant handling course. Our investigator met Riddle and zoo manager Iain Valentine. In his office Valentine demonstrated with an elephant hook how to give the elephants a whack, because elephant training was about the trainer establishing the 'right' relationship to begin with.
Our investigator kept a diary, in which it was noted that Scott Riddle was adamant that his work with the Blackpool elephants was not to be filmed in case 'something went wrong'. He said that the public wouldn't understand 'why we do it (train the elephants) this way'. During training the elephants urinated a lot. This seemed to be a reaction to the training/handling process. At one point when the elephants were taken out for a walk in the paddock, a Blackpool elephant keeper carried an electric shock device, a 4 feet long bright yellow hot shot (see pictures). Our investigator was told by another of the 'students' that 2 weeks before the course started Riddle had pulled down the elephants with ropes and a winch and they were shocked with the electric prods, to establish his authority. Riddle told students that the elephants did what he wanted because of his demeanor - some of the students did not know until later that week that it was the shocking treatment they had received and not his demeanor that made the elephants scared of Scott Riddle. Riddle was supposed to train elephants in other safari parks in 1999 but for some reason these training sessions were cancelled. At an elephant meeting held that week at the Zoo, some elephant keepers on the course would not discuss in front of others the training procedures they used on elephants. It was noted that the Chipperfield court case would put the spot light on zoo elephant trainers.
In December 1999 CAPS was able to prove that the electric shock devices were used on the elephants. Blackpool Council who own the zoo admitted in a letter that the goads had been used. The Director of Community Services says "The goads were used once or twice during training... the voltage discharge will give no long term damage". CAPS has taken advice from elephant experts and Veterinary Surgeons who disagree. Dr Bill Jordan, retired wildlife vet and elephant expert says:
Iain Valentine the zoo manager denied the electric shock devices were used. In a letter to Irene Boyne he said "The use of electric goads is not permitted". He also lied in a letter to Joan Humble MP. Valentine said "I could not contemplate when stretching would be used in elephant training!" Yet on the undercover video whilst in his office he tells our investigator that the elephants are doing a bit of stretching! Diane Westwood VN, Executive Director of CAPS has worked in the zoo industry and is a qualified Veterinary Nurse. She says:
The video footage, filmed undercover, shows the elephants being trained to life their feet and head, hold sticks in their mouths and are jabbed with elephant hooks in the shoulder and head. Keepers from other zoos and safari parks take it in turns to climb up and sit on one of the elephants. The elephants urinate frequently, and vocalise – particularly when they are forced to hold a stick in their mouths. On day 4 Scott Riddle admitted damaging Katie's mouth by pulling on the hook. Also on Day 4 our investigator counted 18 'holes' in Katie's face, Crumples also had blood on her face. Blackpool zoo elephant keepers can clearly be seen jabbing the elephants with elephant hooks on film. This investigation was given massive coverage in national press and media. We hope that the public remember what they have read when they see performing elephants in zoos. Pat Simpson, CAPS Director and Blackpool resident is horrified. She has demanded a public inquiry into the treatment of elephants at Blackpool Zoo. Blackpool Council are investigating. The CAPS Elephant Protection Project will continue. We will not stop, until the abuse of captive elephants in zoos and circuses has ceased. Legislation In California a bill was introduced to offer some protection to captive elephants. The bill states 'It shall be a misdemeanor for any owner or manager of an elephant to engage in abusive behaviour toward the elephant, which behaviour shall include; depravation of food, water and rest; use of electricity; physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring or breakage of skin; insertion of any instrument into any bodily orifice.' CAPS has asked our government to introduce similar legislation. Please help us by writing to your MP. Elephant training
A retired elephant keeper summarised elephant training. It includes: Chaining – to establish initial dominance over elephants, they are chained for long periods. Chains are attached to one or both front and back legs and sometimes around the neck. The animal is sometimes ''stretched' - this is where the elephant lowers down onto its sternum. It is an unnatural position, one that elephants do not assume for any length of time through choice. If forced to stay in this position for any length of time circulation can be affected and it can be fatal. Beating – To further 'break' elephants during training sessions they are beaten with implements. Electric shocks – once elephants are broken to a training schedule, electric shock devices, sometimes called 'hotshots' are applied to force the elephant into the desired routine. Ankus or elephant hook – jabbed into sensitive areas such as the chin, ears, mouth and feet. The training of an elephant relies on domination. The elephant is beaten into a low social rank and is kept there. This becomes a never ending battle between the elephant and trainer and is why so many elephant trainers are killed. Elephant training relies on the application of pain and restraint. It is not just a one off process either. It carries on throughout the elephant's life.
Suggested Reading For more information on the treatment of captive elephants read Keepers of the Ark by R J Ryan, available from www.amazon.com. This is the true story of how elephants were cared for, handled, and trained during the time the author worked as an elephant keeper at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. For the first time, the public can get a behind the scenes look at the daily life of captive elephants. The author, R J Ryan, says "This book was written as a promise to the elephants that I worked with that one day their story would be told. The names of most of the participants were changed because it is a universal story of how these beautiful and passive animals are treated and what they endure on a daily basis throughout the world. It is my hope that their story will touch you the way they touched me and that you will forever look upon them with different eyes." |
