Cape Town -
Animal rights groups have lashed out at the elephant-back safari industry after a handler was trampled to death last week.
Last Monday, an experienced handler at the Elephant Sanctuary in the North West Province was killed by two elephants. According to reports, the handler fell off one of the animals while conducting a morning exercise session and was trampled.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare’s South African director, Jason Bell, said: “This tragedy is the fifth recorded of elephant handlers in South Africa since 2006.” He said the industry was characterised by a pattern of abuse.
“The elephant-back safari industry is one of greedy and willing participants in a practice that allows elephants to be subjected to training that is wrong, cruel and exploitative. They pay no attention to the psychological and social needs of these highly intelligent creatures.”
But Knysna Elephant Park owner Lisette Withers said this was untrue.
“We’ve been accused of starving the elephants, taking away their water, even hitting them to train them. If you do this it’s going to kill you at the first opportunity it gets or it’s going to break loose.” She said a spacious and comfortable environment was far more conducive to earning the large creatures’ trust in order to tame them. A dedicated research team monitored the animals’ well-being, she said.
Knysna Elephant Park is advertised as a rehabilitation centre and country getaway, giving visitors a chance to get up close with the big creatures.
Withers admitted there had been two violent incidents in the park’s 19-year history, both involving park staff.
In 2011, one of the park’s handlers was attacked by a bull and had to have his leg amputated. In 2005, a chef at the park was killed by an elephant.
Withers said that in both instances the staff members had been negligent. She said as long as rules were followed and the situation was carefully assessed, training and interacting with the elephants was safe.
“We haven’t had a single incident involving any of our guests.”
Withers said she felt vilified by animal groups that refused to find common ground with her and other trainers.
She had been accused of beating the elephants and chaining them up, allegations that were unfounded.
“They can come here and look. Everything is out in the open for all the guests to see. Where would we find time to beat our animals?”
The International Fund for Animal Welfare said the park had illegally brought in elephants for the purpose of training them and using them in the elephant-back safari industry, which was not allowed by the norms and standards for the management of elephants in South Africa.
Again Withers disputed the claims and pointed out that she had been granted all the proper permits from nature conservation authorities to bring the elephants in.
“I’m doing everything properly,” she said. - Cape Argus