Pictured: Twycross Zoo enclosure where three keepers 'were caught on CCTV beating Tonzi the elephant with canes'

  • Three male staff members have been dismissed for allegedly hitting the two elephants
  • The animals have not been left with permanent injuries
  • Police have arrested and bailed the accused trio

By Anna Edwards

PUBLISHED: 03:26 EST, 25 October 2012 | UPDATED: 11:06 EST, 25 October 2012


This is the enclosure where Tonzi and another elephant were allegedly whipped with bamboo canes.

Three zoo keepers have now been sacked and arrested after they were accused of harming the two animals at a Leicestershire zoo.

Three male staff members are accused of beating Tonzi the elephant with bamboo canes after reportedly being caught on CCTV camera.

A source at the zoo claims that the keepers took turns hitting the 28-year-old Asian elephant but left no marks, so it was not obvious that the animal had been harmed, it was reported.

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A source at the zoo claims that the keepers took turns hitting the 28-year-old elephant but left no marks, so it was not obvious that the animal had been harmed, it was reported

A source at the zoo claims that the keepers took turns hitting the 28-year-old elephant but left no marks, so it was not obvious that the animal had been harmed, it was reported

The zoo says it acted promptly when it heard the cruel allegations by calling the police

The zoo says it acted promptly when it looked through the CCTV footage (camera pictured top right) and called the police

webcam at Twycross Zoo

The elephants can be seen today on the webcam at Twycross Zoo, after it was revealed that three employees had been dismissed following the allegations

It is believed that the other two elephants were hit with bamboo canes.

But when other staff members were checking through CCTV footage of the zoo, they spotted the alleged abuse.

 

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The source told The Sun: 'It appeared Tonzi was being beaten by the keepers.

'Apparently the keepers were taking it in turns to hit her with bamboo canes.'

The source claims that the zoo fears people will not visit the Leicestershire attraction after the alleged cruelty to the star animal.

Tonzi, who originally came from a timber camp in Burma, became a grandmother this year when her daughter Tara had a baby.

Tonzi, seen with her daughter Tara,

Tonzi, seen with her daughter Tara, was allegedly subjected to beatings. The zoo says that it contacted animal welfare organisations afterwards

tonzi

Tonzi, seen with daughter Tara, was allegedly whipped with bamboo canes by three men

A source claimed the trio were caught on CCTV

A source claimed the trio were caught on CCTV

The zoo, which has an 80-acre site, confirmed that they had sacked staff following the alleged incident and said the animals had not been permanently harmed.

A spokesman said: 'Three members of Twycross Zoo staff have been dismissed.

'This action follows an internal investigation and relates to an animal welfare issue.  Twycross Zoo acted rapidly and comprehensively as soon as the issue came to light.

'The zoo immediately instigated an extensive investigation in line with its internal policies and legal welfare requirements. 

'The small group of animals this incident relates to suffered no lasting injury, are behaving normally and are now doing extremely well. 

'The animals have been and continue to be on full public show.

'The incident was reported immediately to the police who are investigating. 

''The animals involved are being regularly checked by veterinary experts who report they are well and behaving normally. The animals have been and continue to be on full public show.

'Despite this Tywcross Zoo has a zero tolerance towards such behaviour.

'This case involved rogue individuals, acting in complete disregard to their moral, contractual and legal requirements.

'Everyone at the zoo is extremely upset at their actions.'

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said that there was an ongoing investigation.

She said: 'We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation in connection with the unnecessary suffering of an elephant at Twycross Zoo.

'The beating happened in September this year.

'Three men have been arrested in connection with the incident and released on police bail for a later date, pending further inquiries.'

Twycross Zoo has sacked three members of staff accused of beating one of their elephants

Investigation: Twycross Zoo sacked three members of staff accused of beating one of its elephants. Pictured are other elephants at the famous zoo

A 59-year-old elephant called Anne, who was savagely attacked and beaten, was rescued last year because of a Daily Mail campaign.

She was Britain’s last circus elephant, and was beaten and stabbed with a pitchfork by her sadistic keeper.

Her misery was exposed in March last yeae after campaigners from Animal Defenders International shot secret footage of her being abused.

After a nationwide outcry, she ass safely rehomed at Longleat Safari park where, thanks to the generosity of Daily Mail readers, a £400,000 sanctuary is to be built just for her.

VIDEO: Tonzi is checked over by keepers at the zoo... 

 
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Twycross Zoo is in Warwickshire and not Leicestershire! Simple look on their website would tell you that

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The only type of zoo that should be allowed is one that houses people like the three "staff members." We could throw peanuts at them.

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Name and shame them please.

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Well done Twycross Zoo for acting swiftly and decisively. It certainly won't put me off visiting you in the future and I imagine the majority of people on here will feel the same. - anon , anon, United Kingdom, 25/10/2012 11:03 --> Maybe anon from anon, but it's not the only problem the zoo has at the moment. It's only a couple of weeks ago they sent out letters saying their giraffes had been moved to another zoo because the enclosure was inadequate. Frankly, and I say this as a regular visitor, the zoo is in a mess right now.

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Well done to the zoo for acting quickly to get rid of the idiots responsible and reporting them to the police!

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Absolutly vile living things (note i didnt use the word human) lets see who the big guy is in the wild, you wouldnt dare go near the elephant let alone hit it. Humans shock me more and more each day, we are all equals and the sooner people realise that the better the world will be. Makes me so sad, bet the elephant was hating it when the zoo keepers came it must of made them so sad. Remember elephants dont forget :(

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Gosh that's so depressing, how long had it been going on for? The psycho freak abusers must be named and shamed as well as put in prison.

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The bastards ought to be jailed for animal cruelty and never allowed near animals again.

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And people wonder why some elephants suddenly turn and attack their keepers, thanks to CCTV these mentally sub normal morons have been caught, these gentle giants have put up with being beaten and not turned nasty, this culture of cruelty to animals is escalating at an alarming rate.

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hate zoos murderous

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