Baby, The Kenyan Elephant Kept in Confinement
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As part of a year-long investigation for the animal rights organisation One Voice, Tracks documented the tragic life of Baby, a Kenyan elephant confined on a truck trailer in France for a circus trainer.
The trailer was so small that she could hardly turn around, and her life mostly consisted of her looking at four walls barely a few feet from her eyes. Baby can barely turn, which she does painfully all day long, trying to relieve her mind and limbs. Her daily life is this truck. The rare outings only take place to serve her trainer.
Baby’s Story
In 1985, Baby was captured from the wild in Kenya where she had lived free with her family. She was just two years old. It is suspected that her family was massacred. Since then she has been forcibly dragged to circuses, animal parks, fairs, and village festivals, and used in advertisements, TV shows, television, historical reconstructions, and films.
“The space that elephants should have at their disposal should give them the freedom to roam and explore, to spend time feeding and drinking for several hours a day. A truck can never meet these requirements and the lack of space inherent in this type of vehicle can cause them mental problems, generating in them a stereotypical behavior when they are kept there for a prolonged period (which can be as short as one hour),” said vetenarian Dr. Willem Schaftenaar.
Learn more about the investigation here and speak out for baby by signing One Voice’s petition here.
Tracks Investigations has undertaken over 295 investigative film projects supporting over 40 conservation, environmental and animal protection NGOs since its inception in 2006. Learn more about how you can work with us here. To support our investigative work for animals, click here.