The Johannesburg Zoo in Randburg is suing two animal activist organisations for defamation after a video emerged on social media of the zoo’s ‘celebration’ of Lammie’s 40th birthday on World Elephant Day.
Ban Animal Trading (BAT) and the NSPCA shared a video online of the zoo’s elephants being forced to perform tricks for visitors on Monday 12 August.
In the video, the animals are clearly traumatised by the situation. IOL reports that Lammie, the world’s loneliest elephant, was kept locked up while the zoo’s two new elephants performed tricks.
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From the video it is evident that the three gentle giants were in complete distress. In a statement made by the Conservation Action Trust, Mopani, one of the new elephants, was made to do tricks to entertain the crowds of visitors bussed in for the occasion.
To view the video, click here.
Image source: screenshot from BAT’s video
