大象传媒

Northamptonshire Police is investigating jointly with the RSPCA after images emerged of Annie the Asian elephant being struck with a metal pitchfork.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) shot the covert video earlier this year amid concerns for the 57-year-old animal's well-being as part of the Bobby Roberts Super Circus. The pressure group, which is calling for circus owner Bobby Roberts, 68, to release the elephant into its care, said the undercover video was filmed between January 21 and February 15 in a barn in Polebrook, Northamptonshire.
Footage released by ADI shows the arthritic animal being kicked in the face and body 48 times and shackled by heavy chains.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: "The RSPCA and Northamptonshire Police are conducting a joint investigation. "At this point there is no further information we can give to the media."

The circus released a statement yesterday which said the alleged incidents "appear to be isolated and at times when Bobby Roberts was away for short periods". Mr Roberts' wife Moira, 72, said they reacted with "shock and horror" when
they saw the footage. She said they knew nothing of what was going on, adding that the Romanian groom employed to care for Annie had left the circus in the early hours of Saturday morning.