Anne's agony: Battered, kicked and stabbed, the desperate plight of Britain's last circus elephant

With each repeated blow, the pitchfork makes a sickening thwack as it slams into Anne the elephant's hide.

She flinches, at one point even appearing to lose her footing under the weight of a particularly savage strike.

The disturbing images come from a secretly shot video which campaigners say lays bare the cruel reality of her life as Britain's last circus elephant.


Merciless: In one of the shots from the video, a worker at the farm swings a vicious kick into the belly of 58-year-old Anne

Merciless: In secretly shot video, a worker swings a vicious kick into the belly of 58-year-old Anne the elephant. Animal Defenders International planted the device because of concerns about how Anne was being treated at Bobby Roberts's Super Circus

It shows Anne enduring the abuse at the hands of her so-called carers while shackled in a dingy barn during the circus's winter break.

As well as being repeatedly hit with the pitchfork by one worker employed to feed and look after her, the 58-year-old elephant also appears to be stabbed in the face with the tool's metal prongs during one attack.

A total of 48 strikes, including kicks to her body and head, were recorded as she was left chained to the spot by her legs.

Campaigners claimed shackling Anne with leg irons is particularly cruel because she suffers arthritis and her movements are already badly hampered.

The graphic attacks were recorded over three-and-a-half weeks by a surveillance camera concealed on a farm in Polebrook, Northamptonshire.

Experts working for the pressure group Animal Defenders International (ADI) planted the device because of concerns about Anne's welfare.


In goes the pitchfork: The weapon is used to beat the animal and even to stab her in the head

In goes the pitchfork: The weapon is used to beat the animal and even to stab her in the head. The graphic attacks were recorded over three-and-a-half weeks by a surveillance camera concealed on a farm in Polebrook, Northamptonshire during the circus's winter break

They have repeatedly called for circus owner Bobby Roberts to hand over Anne so she can live out her days in a wildlife sanctuary.

But Mr Roberts, whose Super Circus began its latest tour on Thursday, insists the elephant is 'part of the family' and to separate her from the circus would cause her to 'pine away and die'.

The hidden camera also caught the abuse of other animals in the barn, including a camel, miniature ponies and horses held in stables.

Ponies and horses can be seen jumping backwards as they are kicked and slapped by a worker.

On one occasion a man spits in the face of the camel as he pushes a wheelbarrow of straw in front of it.

Anne is the oldest surviving elephant in Europe and is wheeled out in a headdress to pose for photographs with audience members up to twice a day.


And still the torture goes on: Anne is battered with a stave in the farm building

And still the torture goes on: Anne, who is shackled despite having arthritis, is battered with a stave in the farm building

Elephants' life expectancy is around 70 years but the arthritis has taken its toll on her ageing body.

Campaigners have claimed her back right leg locks and weight gain has put even more strain on her frame.

The Asian elephant has been travelling with the Bobby Roberts Super Circus since the 1950s when she was bought by Mr Roberts's parents for around £3,000.

At the time she was one of many performing elephants but since then most circuses have stopped using animals.

In 2005, the RSPCA and the Government refused to intervene in her case after claims that she was being kept in appalling conditions.

Her plight then was revealed by our sister paper the Mail on Sunday and angry readers sent more than 1,500 letters to Ben Bradshaw, then Labour's Animal Health and Welfare Minister.




On show: Anne with owner Bobby Roberts, who runs the Super Circus. Anne has been with the circus since she was a baby

However ministry vets reported that Anne was in good health and kept clean and the RSPCA said there was no proof that she was a victim of 'unnecessary suffering'.

The distressing footage from ADI suggests a different story.

It was released as ministers prepare to announce new policies on the treatment of wild animals in circuses.

A consultation found 95 per cent of people said it was unacceptable to use any species of wild animal in a travelling circus.

The Government has since come under pressure to ban the practice but some expect it will unveil a framework for self-regulation instead.

Jan Creamer, who leads ADI, said her organisation has been concerned for Anne's welfare for 'many years'.

She called on police to examine the material with a view to investigating the circus for offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

Ms Creamer said: 'ADI is discussing the potential for legal action with its lawyers and will be in touch with the police.

'Poor Anne has been with the circus for over 50 years since she was a baby, having been caught in the wild and torn from her family.

'Elephants are social and extremely intelligent so this has been a living hell for her. At last we have managed to expose this circus operation for the cruel farce that it is.

'Anne's tragic story symbolises the plight of circus animals and is a shocking indictment of the circus industry at a key time as the Government considers a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.'

Last night, confronted with the evidence, Bobby Roberts said he would fire the Romanian groom paid £8,000 a year to care for Anne.

'I'm so disgusted and I can't believe this has happened under my nose,' he said.

'We trusted him and we'd check on her every hour or so, but I can't be there 24 hours a day.'

Asked whether he would consider handing over Anne, he said: 'We have talked about sending her to a sanctuary, but the only ones are in America and the journey would kill her.

'If the circumstances were right, I would part from her. But she'd pine, like I would.'

Mr Roberts's wife Moira said: 'It would break his heart to be parted from her.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370050/Anne-elephants-agony-Battered-kicked-stabbed-desperate-plight-Britains-circus-elephant.html#ixzz1HhMD2WLg

The fine better be ****ing huge. He should be given a jail sentence. God people like this make so angry! What gives them the right to think they can treat an animal like this!!!

I loathe the idea of animals being kept in captivity- especially big animals that require freedom over a big area. But animals as part of a circus is one of the most disgusting things- they were NOT meant for this kind of life. And this treatment probably isn't even isoloted- if it happened here it will be happening elsewhere.

Regulation is a load of crap too. The Conservatives are not the sort of party to give a damn about animal welfare- and they definitley don't like telling people what they can and can't do. So I wont expect miracles- maybe Clegg with have one his rare moments and say somthing but I wont hold my breath...

Poor animal; I feel horrible about this.

EDIT: Sorry it says fire not fine. Well he bloody should be- he should get in major trouble for this. Just be fired is a let off. I hope someone who knows him gives him what he deserves.

Dreadful!

These people need a good kicking themselves!

Have to agree with you Eilzel, I seriously cannot abide the thought of circus animals, I can still remeber seeing them as a child and I knew even then that they had sad and lonely lives, even as a kid.

Animal abuse is rising here in the UK and the government are doing jack about it and they know it.

Seren wrote:Have to agree with you Eilzel, I seriously cannot abide the thought of circus animals, I can still remeber seeing them as a child and I knew even then that they had sad and lonely lives, even as a kid.

Animal abuse is rising here in the UK and the government are doing jack about it and they know it.

Much like Halal slaughter!

This story brought tears to my eyes, I can't bear people who are cruel to animals. Heartbreaking.

I do hope it happens Sprite, it would be nice to think that the poor thing could have some time somewhere realitively nice. I hate animals being kept in circuses, it should have been stopped years ago.

Caring Daily Mail readers have raised an astonishing £340,000 to create Europe’s first elephant sanctuary – and make a permanent retirement home for Anne. In only five weeks, the money has poured into the Daily Mail Elephant Sanctuary Appeal to create a purpose-built haven for former circus and zoo animals at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire. And today the Mail can reveal plans for the home where Anne will spend the rest of her life. This artist’s impression shows the purpose-built elephant home, heated sandpits, wading areas and play areas where Anne and up to five other rescued elephants will live in peace.


Revelling in retirement: Anne enjoying her temporary home


An artist's impression of how her permanent home could look

The plight of Anne, who is 59, touched animal lovers after shocking pictures taken by welfare group Animal Defenders International showed her being beaten by a Romanian groom in her former circus home. The photos were published by the Mail at the end of March.

Celebrities including Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alan Titchmarsh and Bill Oddie backed our campaign, along with Princess Michael of Kent.
Anne’s former owners, Bobby and Moira Roberts, said they were horrified to discover their elephant – whom they regarded as a pet – had been beaten. They agreed to let her move to Longleat. Anne has settled down well at Longleat where she is getting the care she needs in a temporary 13-acre enclosure.

Steve Mytton, from Longleat, said: ‘We are staggered by the generosity of the public. They have been so giving. We have had lots of get well cards and happy retirement cards. Anne is doing really well and her keepers are pleasantly surprised. She is the oldest elephant in Europe and suffers from arthritis but she is playing in the paddock and going for regular walks. The keepers are really happy and say she’s acting like an elephant half her age.’

Plans for the sanctuary are being refined and detailed drawings will be produced in the next few months after Longleat’s experts take further advice. The safari park says the elephant quarters will be ‘massive’ and centrally heated. The areas around their home will have fallen trees, heated sandpits, waterfalls, wading pools and elephant-style Swingball, which helps the animals exercise their trunks and neck muscles.

The enclosures will lead to a large field and wood where the creatures can walk and play away from the gaze of the public.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1386948/Daily-Mail-readers-raise-340-000-build-animal-sanctuary-Anne-elephant.html#ixzz1MKNCRETE


Finally peace and happiness for Anne and hope for other former circus and zoo animals

I would really like to see the perpetrators of the animal cruelty treated the same way as they treated the animal. Pitchforked, kicked and beaten up every day.

fred bloggs wrote:I would really like to see the perpetrators of the animal cruelty treated the same way as they treated the animal. Pitchforked, kicked and beaten up every day.

Totally agree Fred. Animal cruelty, pure evil

fred bloggs wrote:I would really like to see the perpetrators of the animal cruelty treated the same way as they treated the animal. Pitchforked, kicked and beaten up every day.

On that I fully agree, heartless bullying t***s deserve nothing better

At least there's a happy ending to this story!

MrDoodles wrote:At least there's a happy ending to this story!

I quite often follow up posted stories and I'm chuffed to bits for Anne Mr Doodles. Look how happy she is, a well deserved retirement and she will have helped so many other animals too! xxx

Feelthelove wrote:

I quite often follow up posted stories and I'm chuffed to bits for Anne Mr Doodles. Look how happy she is, a well deserved retirement and she will have helped so many other animals too! xxx

Hopefully she will have a few years left to enjoy herself FTL, and I hope the bar stewards who hurt her have no enjoyable years left!