Attorneys say Elephant Abuse was ‘Necessary’ (February 27, 2002)

The Pretoria News reports that, according to the defense advocates, the “abusive” actions against the Tuli baby elephants were to discipline or control them and the amount of violence used was necessitated by circumstances.

However, there seems to be discrepancies between the testimonies of the accused and Andries Venter, a monitor of the NSPCA who was witness to the abuse.

According to the article Daniel Steward, a senior inspector at the NSPCA, said: “In my opinion the extent of this ‘control’ was questionable. You can control animals with a lesser degree of violence”.

The court proceedings continue.