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SICK trainers abused the loveable animal in Hollywood blockbuster Water for Elephants to force her to learn tricks, campaigners said yesterday.

An animal rights group has released disturbing video footage that it says shows elephant star Tai being hit with large metal hooks and stunned by electric shocks.

<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <a href="http://vimeo.com/23404112">Movie star electric shocked</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/animaldefenders">Animal Defenders</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a> . </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Tai performs some of the tricks she is seen being taught in the harrowing video from 2005 in the 2011 film Water for Elephants.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The video shows Tai crying out in pain when she is shocked with a hand-held stun gun into performing a headstand. She is also beaten on the body and legs.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Water for Elephants was released in the UK last week.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon who play a couple brought together through their compassion for an abused circus elephant.</p> <img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="_d4741ee9-ccbd-44e9-b0f1-49a2ee364dc9" src="https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article90877.ece/binary/image-1-for-editorial-pics-10-may-2011-gallery-487238774.jpg" alt="image-1-for-editorial-pics-10-may-2011-gallery-487238774.jpg" /> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The animal, played by Tai, is shown being beaten by a trainer – but the movie’s producers have insisted that no animals were harmed during the making of the film.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Jan Creamer, the chief executive of Animal Defenders International, which obtained the appalling video footage of Tai, thinks the stars, the producers and the public have been duped.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">She said: “I believe that Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson will be horrified to learn what Tai went through. There is only so much that can be monitored on set or by visits. The actual training goes on in secret.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“But, as this video shows, the reality is that this elephant was taught the tricks seen in the film by being given electric shocks.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“Animal suffering is never romantic and it is never entertainment. Our message is that if you care about animals, then don’t go to see films where performing animals appear.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The video also shows a baby elephant crying out after being hooked in the lip.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Another elephant is pinned to the floor while her tusks are sawn down.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">ADI is sending copies of the footage to the film’s stars and producers today.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Californian performing animal firm, Have Trunk Will Travel, owns 42-year-old Tai. Co-founders Gary and Kari Johnson said in a statement last night: “We stand by our care and training methods. We are proud of our contributions to elephant welfare and conservation.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“The video shows heavily edited and very short ­snippets taken six years ago purporting mistreatment of our elephants. If there was truly any abuse going on why wait six minutes, much less six years?</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“None of the footage being shown was taken during Tai’s training for Water for Elephants.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">“We will continue to provide all our elephants with the love and excellent care they deserve.”</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Fox Movies, which produced the film, were unavailable for comment last night.</p>