THAT ANIMALS HAVE abilities that are akin to our own seems to be a startling recent discovery to a large segment of our society. We congratulate them on catching up with what our so-called animal lovers have known since the earliest of times. Be it instinctive or by virtue of our experiences, animal intelligence, personality, memory and feelings has come to be a sort of undisputed fact.
CREATURES THAT MOST of us know are of the small to medium range in size and can be found in shelters, pet shops and at some of our neighbors' houses. Kittens anyone? But it seems that the larger and more exotic the species, the greater is the complex intelligence, behavior and individuality.
THE FILM WE are reviewing manages to make a case for our long enslaved pachyderms. Meaning "Thick Skinned" the word is derived from Greek or Latin (one or the other) and lends its name to this fascinating order of the Animal Kingdom called Mammals.
THE FILM DOES a fine job in covering all of that basic scientific data; including touching on the old Family Tree. Mammoths, Mastodons and Gomphotheres. (look them up, Schultz). They also remind us that in the wild, they are far fewer in numbers all the time.
BUT THE MAIN message here is how the elephant is faring in the modern world of captivity. Circuses and Zoos are the chief targets. Whereas (according to the narration) there does seem to be hope for Zoological Parks, but the Circus is out. They contend that the methods and practices traditionally employed are cruel, unnatural and heartless to the animal.
THE NARRATION AND storyline brings us a history of the elephant in captivity,. dating into antiquity. The cave paintings, ancient armies and employment of the great beast as building & excavation specialist are reviewed.
WHAT WAS PARTICULARLY disturbing and disappointing was the story of a Coney Island Indian Elephant named Topsy. Following some dangerous encounters with trainers, the owners sold Topsy to be used in an electronic experiment to demonstrate the negative properties of Alternating Current. The elephant was electrocuted by the company of Thomas Edison.
THERE IS NO doubt that the whole slant of the film is one of anti-circus ownership and employment of elephants for entertainment. That fanaticism that is so often displayed by those individuals who become involved in causes seems to be at work here. The trouble with a typical zealot is that they care not so much about the fairness and veracity of their work so much as is its ability to influence its audience.
TO REALLY GIVE a true and fairly rendered production, the production team had an obligation to depict some more pachyderm friendly institutions and their keepers.
THE Arguments PRESENTED are powerful, but we see that there is one positive here. There is extensive breeding of both African and Indian Elephants in captivity. This could be a potential tool in countering the widespread illegal hunting of the animals that could lead to extinction.
