[Includes disturbing footage]
Producer: Byrne Keanly
Presenter: Manu Padayachee
TULI ELEPHANTS UPDATE
Following the NSPCA’s and Carte Blanche’s exposé of the horrific cruelty shown to 30 baby elephants at African Game Services by owner Riccardo Ghiazza and his employees, Ghiazza and others were charged with cruelty under the Animal Protection Act, and the NSPCA tried to remove the baby elephants from Ghiazza’s care. The case took years to resolve and in the meantime, Ghiazza managed to sell several of the elephants despite the NSPCA’s efforts. Carte Blanche followed the story until 2008.
Seven of the Tulis were exported to zoos in Europe. Three went to Basel Zoo in Switzerland, where they were expected to perform tricks for the public and one reportedly attacked a keeper a few years later; as of 2008, they reportedly no longer performed. Two went to Erfurt Zoo in Germany, and another two to Dresden Zoo, where they were still performing for the public.
Ghiazza sent nine elephants to Sandhurst Safaris in the North West, a “controversial” hunting farm which in 2008 was the only place in South Africa where all the Big Five could be hunted. Later five of these were transferred to Ecotourism Concern, a Hartbeespoort sanctuary. The remaining four may have been hunted: their fates are unknown.
The NSPCA purchased nine of the remaining 14 elephants from Ghiazza using money raised from donors and conservation organisations, and released them in August 1999 into Marakele National Park in Limpopo where they were integrated almost immediately into a wild herd.
By December 1999 five of the original 30 elephants were still in bomas at African Game Services. The elephants were in the custody of the NSPCA which refused to allow their transfer and by mid-2000, the remaining five had been transferred to Marakele. Two of them died thereafter, and as of 2008 little was known of the others that had not been closely tracked.
About a year after the original Tuli Elephants story was aired, Kenyan conservationist Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick revealed further horrific footage to Carte Blanche, showing ongoing abuse of the remaining 14 elephants in Ghiazza’s care, by the Mahout trainers Ghiazza had brought in as well as other employees.
The NSPCA charged Ghiazza, two Indonesian mahouts and other associates with cruelty under the Animal Protection Act. The mahout and Ghiazza’s staff disappeared and never faced their charges in court. The case was postponed repeatedly until it was eventually heard in February 2002. Ghiazza and company were found guilty in 2003. Ghiazza received a R25 000 fine and 6 month suspended sentences.
We reported in 2008 that Ghiazza has died in a car accident the year before.
The case changed wildlife legislation, which now stipulates that no elephant may be taken captive.