Anne the ex Circus Elephant.
- Thread starter Zambar
- Start date
And once again (with full note that I don't read the Daily Hatemail 
) here's the full article with pictures of Anne settling in at Longleat! 
Anne is safe: Abused elephant moves into her new home at Longleat
) here's the full article with pictures of Anne settling in at Longleat! Anne is safe: Abused elephant moves into her new home at Longleat
Anne will be in very good hands at Longleat, Jon Cracknell the new director of animal operations, is a specialist elephant veterinarian.
In all fairness I believe Bobby Roberts cared very deeply for Anne and has tried to do his best for her under the circumstances, whilst unfortunately it appears that many circus elephant handlers/grooms in particular are abusing their charges in this way, in secret without the circus owners knowing anything about what is actually going on, until it all comes to light. The same occured at the Great British Circus recently when their three elephants were abused by a groom.
In a circus enviroment there are probably certain pressures involved such as time restrictions and routines to stick to which could lead to handlers becoming short-tempered, combined with the fact that elephants can be particularly stubborn if they do not want to do something which may, over time, lead to abuse? It is likely that the handlers also believe that elephants can withstand such harsh treatment?
This is certainly no justification at all for abuse, and I am totally against it, but it might help explain how or why it may occur in those particular circumstances ?
In all fairness I believe Bobby Roberts cared very deeply for Anne and has tried to do his best for her under the circumstances, whilst unfortunately it appears that many circus elephant handlers/grooms in particular are abusing their charges in this way, in secret without the circus owners knowing anything about what is actually going on, until it all comes to light. The same occured at the Great British Circus recently when their three elephants were abused by a groom.
In a circus enviroment there are probably certain pressures involved such as time restrictions and routines to stick to which could lead to handlers becoming short-tempered, combined with the fact that elephants can be particularly stubborn if they do not want to do something which may, over time, lead to abuse? It is likely that the handlers also believe that elephants can withstand such harsh treatment?
This is certainly no justification at all for abuse, and I am totally against it, but it might help explain how or why it may occur in those particular circumstances ?
Things have certainly happened very quickly for Anne, after six years of campaigning to have her re homed it has happened in a week after the exposure of her being badly beaten by the groom.I have followed the events of the last week with great interest, good to see all interested parties finally discussing her future well being like civilised human beings resulting in a satisfactory conclusion, I have not heard any bad talk of good zoos, indeed Animal Defenders International are quoted as being delighted about Anne's move to Longleat, I must also add that I was also delighted personally at London Zoos offer to re home her at Whipsnade with Karishma and co. One comment made on a newspaper website sticks in my mind which I think is most relevant,Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are also perhaps victims in this,i.e.they are victims by being at the tail end of a bygone era, true words in my opinion.
Glad to see Anne has found a new home, regardless of how it happened.
Maguari,
The express is just as bad.
Considering many here claim to not read the Daily Mail, you clearly know a lot of what they print. I would have thought if you didn't agree with their views and politics you wouldn't go near it. There is a lot of spite and hate at the paper. Isn't that what your all accusing the Daily Mail of having?
Slightly hypocritical don't you think?
Personally, I think if your views are influenced by what the biased papers say then your weak in the head.
Maguari,
The express is just as bad.
Considering many here claim to not read the Daily Mail, you clearly know a lot of what they print. I would have thought if you didn't agree with their views and politics you wouldn't go near it. There is a lot of spite and hate at the paper. Isn't that what your all accusing the Daily Mail of having?
Slightly hypocritical don't you think?
Personally, I think if your views are influenced by what the biased papers say then your weak in the head.
History teaches that ignoring hate and prejudice (and stupidity) leads to Bad Things. I don't agree with the BNP either, but I keep a close eye on what they're up to because they worry me.
Ah, the old 'hating hate makes you just as bad' argument. To take a more extreme example for illustrative purposes - Nazis hated Jews (and many other groups, of course, but most famously and tragically Jews). Does this mean we can't hate Nazism without being as bad as the Nazis?
The Daily Mail has the right to whatever opinion they like and I have the right to challenge them on this.
Is it hypocritical? Maybe it is, but human nature is always to be hypocritical. We all know that oil is runing out, cars cause pollution and climate change, costs of motoring are rising and the roads are often massively overcrowded. But how many actually give up their car?
I agree - but unfortunately there are lot of people who are influenced by papers - and I know from personal experience they often don't realise by how much. I've often had to point out to people that stories in a range of papers may not be the full truth due to the paper's socio-political leanings.
I have to say it is a hateful newspaper. Even in the elephant story they make repeated references to the fact that the trainer of the elephant was Romanian, referring to 'the Romanian'. I think that is one of the more subtle ways in which the paper is racist and inciting hatred and should be challenged at every opportunity.
Not at all, I merely question the need to repeatedly refer to his nationality and this needs to be seen in the context of consistent racism often directed at Eastern Europeans in the tabloid media reflected in massive headlines such as 'Romanians Stole My House'. There is a wider agenda at work here which isn't simply concerned with elephant welfare and you would be naive to think otherwise.
My point was it's rather ironic, people are complaining about the sort of newspaper the Daily Mail is, - rightly so, some of it's idea are disgraceful - with the same level of vitriol the paper itself shows on many subjects.
Shiro, as the keeper abusing an was Romanian how is that hateful. All newspapers repeat things specific to their own political ties. The Guardian does the same.
Shiro, as the keeper abusing an was Romanian how is that hateful. All newspapers repeat things specific to their own political ties. The Guardian does the same.
Fair enough - I see where you're coming from.
I think the point is that if they just said he was Romanian at the start, then used his name or referred to him as 'the handler' or 'the groom' or some other job title there wouldn't be the same problem. By repeating the word 'Romanian' they are, consciously or otherwise, associating his nationality with the fact he beat up an elephant - rather than associating him with the beating.
All papers have some sort of agenda, but most manage to avoid out and out racism (or xeno- or homophobia). The Daily Mail does not seem concerned by this.
I studied Media Studies at A-Level and though I didn't get the best grade at it (I'm no good at exams) I can say that I was confident on the discussion side of it - and that is exactly the sort of thing that would be picked out and talked heavily about. Surely, there is a larger array of words than 'the Romanian' to chose from to describe this man.
(I note that even murders etc have names if they are English, and are never referred to as 'the Briton')
Well, I didn't know this person was Romanian until this thread pointed it out.
I wonder if the Daily Mail revealed his nationality because of the vile animal abuse that goes on there. See http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/romania---horses-beaten-before-eyes-of-veterinarian-authorities/
Maybe they were worried that their readers would think he was English. Also I suppose that telling us he is Romanian is perhaps excusing him as that is what he would normally do back home.
I wonder if the Daily Mail revealed his nationality because of the vile animal abuse that goes on there. See http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/romania---horses-beaten-before-eyes-of-veterinarian-authorities/
Maybe they were worried that their readers would think he was English. Also I suppose that telling us he is Romanian is perhaps excusing him as that is what he would normally do back home.
I think the expression is "wearing well", remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Ferret_man
Member
I had hoped for Anne to be moved to Paignton where should could have been company for Duchess, or even Longleat to achier Duchess, (I guess this is not out of the realms of possibility). I am glad she is in safe experienced hand now..
Having Anne at Paignton would have been excellent - a proper zoo exhibit with Asiatic and African Elephants again just like the good old days. Maybe there is hope for people like me after all - I'd given up when Gay died. To my mind the classic zoo Elephant exhibit is two Africans and two Asiatics such as in the early days of the Elephant and Rhino Pavilion at Regent's Park - ah, the joys of being a small boy feeding fruit pastilles to the Elephants (I'm a big believer in allowing public feeding - I suppose I could be the only one left).
Yes - heaven forbid someone might have thought a foreigner's crime was committed by someone English... and we all know all Romanians go around beating animals up on a day to day basis. It's what they normally do...
Vile animal abuse, I am afraid, can happen in any country.
This was a deeply unpleasant act by a man. Not by his country, or any country, but by a man. And maybe everyone else of his nationality deserves not to be tainted by association..?
The point here is that the groom's nationality is entirely irrelevant to the crime. There's no reason it shouldn't be included as background information, of course, but repeating it over and over is totally unnecessary, and just gives the impression they consider it an important factor in the crime.
But of course, times change: Mixing asians and africans is believed to increase the risk of the herpes virus spreading between the two species, so it is generally no longer recommended. (And of course fruit pastilles aren't great for either too!)
And I thought to mention you can now make donations to the creation of the 'Longleat Elephant Sanctuary' on their official site.