A baby elephant who was forced to dance for tourists in Thailand has died after his legs snapped.
The three-year-old spent his entire life at Phuket Zoo and was named ‘Dumbo’ by animal rights activists. He was forced to perform dances and tricks for tourists.
Vets said he died from an untreated infection, which caused persistent diarrhoea. This meant that his body was not absorbing vital nutrients, resulting in brittle bones. He became so malnourished that both of his back legs snapped under the weight of his own body.
His death has outraged animal lovers.
Pichai Sakunsorn, manager of Phuket Zoo, denied that Dumbo was abused or neglected before his death, saying the elephant was a valuable asset to the zoo.
Prayut Chan-o-Cha Prime Minister of Thailand: Ban the use of elephants for entertainment – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/smLgFDdnHN via @UKChange
— Meandmecash (@meandmecash) May 17, 2019
