10 Movies That Abused Animal Rights During Production

7. Water For Elephants Saw Animals Abused During Training

This one is a little tricky. There appear to have been no specific incidents of animal cruelty by those involved with this film starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon, and the AHA awarded it an OUTSTANDING certificate after its release, suggesting that everything on set with regards to the treatment of animals in Water for Elephants was hunky-dory. However, in May 2011 a video surfaced on the internet that appeared to show the elephants involved the movie being exposed to all kinds of inhumane behaviour. Recorded secretly by a charity organisation, the footage shows elephants being electrocuted, beaten with hooks, and even a baby being yanked around by its trunk. The care company present in the camera footage have strenuously denied causing any physical harm to the elephants, and argued that the recording is of an event completely unrelated to the filming of Water for Elephants. The truth remains contested, but the film's reputation was unfortunately tarnished as a result. It's sadly ironic that a film concerned with animal cruelty found itself wrapped up in its own subject-matter.