The
producers
of
Water
for
Elephants,
which
features
Reese
Witherspoon
and
Robert
Pattinson,
have
slammed
the
reports
about
animal
abuse
during
the
production
of
the
film.
The
20th
Century
Fox
bosses
claim
that
they
have
taken
utmost
care
and
given
humane
treatment
to
all
animals
involved
in
the
production.
Recently,
a
footage
showing
42-year-old
Asian
elephant
Tai,
was
released
by
campaigners
from
the
Animal
Defenders
International
(ADI)
group.
In
the
clip,
the
elephant
was
allegedly
beaten
with
hooks
and
given
electric
shocks
to
perform
headstands.
ADI
president
Jan
Creamer
condemned
the
film
crew
for
mistreating
the
elephant
during
the
production
of
Water
for
Elephants.
Now,
20th
Century
Fox
bosses
have
releaesd
a
statement
denying
any
kind
of
animal
abuse.
The
statement
reads:
"Twentieth
Century
Fox
feels
strongly
that
we
have
taken
every
step
to
ensure
that
the
film,
while
portraying
the
perception
of
animal
abuse
(often
through
digital
effects),
held
in
utmost
importance
the
proper
care
and
humane
treatment
of
all
animals
involved
in
the
production."
"Fox
and
the
filmmakers
behind
Water
for
Elephants
are
disturbed
and
saddened
by
the
video
being
circulated
that
purportedly
shows
the
elephant
Tai
being
mistreated
several
years
ago.
We
are
strongly
opposed
to
violence
against
animals,
humans
or
any
creatures."
"Fox
is
compelled
to
point
out
that
this
video
was
not
taken
during
the
training
for,
or
production
of,
our
film,
and
neither
Tai
nor
any
other
animal
performer
in
the
film
was
harmed
in
any
way
during
the
making
of
this
film."