Animal Defenders International:
WHAT: | Â | Have Trunk Will Travel defrauded the public over elephant star of Water for Elephants, says Animal Defenders International |
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| Today, in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, Animal Defenders International (ADI), together with members of the public, Gail Profant and Leslie Hemstreet, will file suit against Have Trunk Will Travel, owners Gary and Kari Johnson, elephant trainer Joanne Smith of Perris, CA, over their claims about the training of the elephant Tai, who played Rosie in the film 'Water for Elephants'. | ||
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| The suit is about assurances given to the public that the elephant Tai was trained with kindness for her role in Water for Elephants. | ||
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| However, video footage released by Animal Defenders International (ADI) showed Tai and other elephants being electric shocked with a stun gun and jabbed and hit will bull hooks during her training for the same types of tricks seen in the movie, at the Perris, CA ranch of Have Trunk Will Travel. Watch the video here: | ||
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http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2119&ssi=7 | ||
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WHERE: | United States District Court, Central District of California – Western Division | |
| 312 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | ||
| Courthouse steps | ||
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WHEN: | Monday, June 27, 2011, 1.00 p.m. | |
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SPOKESPERSONS: | Jan Creamer, Animal Defenders International President | |
| Tim Phillips, Animal Defenders International Vice President | ||
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NOTES TO MEDIA: | High resolution VNR footage and a Time Code Index are available on request. Photographs are available. | |
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MEDIA CONTACT: | Agnes Huff, PhD | |
Agnes Huff Communications Group | ||
| 310-641-2525 (ofc) or 310-902-8131 (mobile) | ||
E-mail ahuff@ahuffgroup.com | ||
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| Since Have Trunk Will Travel hires out Tai and other elephants for elephant rides, advertising and TV as well as movies, ADI is asking members of the public who have seen the Water for Elephants movie, or paid for an elephant ride, to get in touch with ADI's LA office at (323) 935-2234 |
NOTES TO EDITORS: Have Trunk Will Travel is owned by Gary and Kari Johnson and is based in Perris, California, USA. Their group of performing Asian elephants (with approximate ages) includes: Tai (45), Rosie (30), Dixie (46), Kitty (45), Becky (26), Tess (30, and her baby, seen at the time of the investigation, is Tucker; now on loan to Houston Zoo).
Movies with elephants supplied by Have Trunk Will Travel:
Water For Elephants, 2011 (Fox) (Tai), Evan Almighty, 2007 (Universal Studios), Vanity Fair, 2004 (Focus Features) (Tai), Larger Than Life, 1996 (United Artists MGM) (Tai), Jungle Book, 1994 (Walt Disney Pictures), George of the Jungle, 1997 (Disney Studios) (Tai), Ace Ventura When Nature Calls, 1995 (Morgan Creek Warner Brothers), Operation Dumbo Drop, 1995 (Walt Disney Pictures), Exit Through the Gift Shop, documentary, 2009 (Tai) – as well as the upcoming Zookeeper, Summer, 2011 (MGM and Sony Pictures).
Music Videos and TV commercials include:
The Britney Spears Music Video "Circus" 2008 (Tai). Commercials: Hewlett Packard, Visa, Oreo Cookies and with Ellen Degeneres in an advertisement for American Express.
ADI is leading the campaign to end the suffering of animals in entertainment and currently has major campaigns running in Europe, South America and the USA. The organisation has just rescued a record breaking 25 circus lions from Bolivia to the US, having conducted undercover investigations in Bolivia which helped close down the circus industry in the country for good.
Animal Defenders International (ADI) With offices in London, Los Angeles, and Bogota Animal Defenders International (ADI) is a major international campaigning group, lobbying to protect animals on issues such as animals in entertainment and their use in experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution and conservation. ADI involves itself in international animal rescues as well as educational work on animals, conservation and environment. Founded in 1990, ADI has become a major force for animal protection and has succeeded through its undercover investigations in securing legal protection for animals. ADI opposes violence or intimidation whether directed at humans or other animals.
http://www.ad-international.org
http://www.adiusa.org
http://www.ad-international.org/adi_world/
ADI's Mission:
To educate, create awareness, and promote the interest of humanity in the cause of justice, and the suppression of all forms of cruelty to animals wherever possible to alleviate suffering, and to conserve and protect animals and the environment.
Contacts:
Agnes
Huff Communications Group
Agnes Huff, PhD
310-641-2525
(ofc) or 310-902-8131 (mobile)
ahuff@ahuffgroup.com
