Alleged Treatment of Tai Leads to Lawsuit

Yesterday the animal activist organization Animal Defenders International (ADI) filed a lawsuit, along with a few civilians, against Tai's trainers at Have Trunk Will Travel.

So what exactly does the lawsuit claim about how our favorite Water for Elephants costar learned to do circus tricks in her scene-stealing role as Reese and Robert Pattinson's beloved Rosie?

"The suit is about assurances given to the public that the elephant Tai was trained with kindness for her role in Water for Elephants," reads a press release from Animal Defenders International. "Video footage released by ADI showed Tai and other elephants being electric shocked with a stun gun and jabbed and hit will bull hooks during her training for the same types of tricks seen in the movie, at the Perris, CA ranch of Have Trunk Will Travel."

And although reps for Have Trunk Will Travel have stated that the training facility "does not condone using electrical devices to discipline and control elephants except in situations where elephant or human safety is at risk," a home video was leaked that seemed to show Tai being given electric shocks and being beaten to get her to perform tricks.

Since California law dictates that animal abuse lawsuits need to be brought to attention within a year of the alleged mistreatment, unfortunately, no one depicted in the incriminating 2005 footage could be found criminally responsible for their actions.

Instead, ADI is claiming that Have Trunk Will Travel "defrauded" and "duped" the public by luring them into the false sense of security that Tai had been treated kindly during her training for the film.

Another organization, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, has also jumped on the save-the-elephants bandwagon. Last Thursday, it announced that it is offering a $10,000 reward for any leads regarding elephant abuse during production of a film or TV program.

Executive director for ALDF, Stephen Wells, commented: "The glamour of the big screen and television productions belies the suffering of elephants forced to perform on Hollywood sets. Elephants are wild animals, not actors, and the barbaric techniques routinely used to force elephants to learn tricks can qualify as abuse under California law."

But now that Tai's career has skyrocketed, this elephant ain't slowing down! Tai can be seen next in Zookeeper with Kevin James, which is set to be released next week.

Let's just hope that Kevin is as sweet to his animal costars as R.Pattz is.

EOnline.com

via twilightish.com

~Robstenfan

Tai to be on 90210 Monday 5/16

Sneak Peek: 90210's Season Finale Wedding!

buzzsugar for more pictures
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Carrie

Tai's trainer talks about Rob, WFE and more

Source
Via
Youtube
 robpattinsonlife

~Robstenfan

AUCTION: Tai’s Painting + Rob, Reese, Christoph and Tai Signed Poster to be Auctioned for Charity to Benefit International Elephant Foundation

The Kinkers at www.WaterForElephantsFilm.com Fan Site are pleased to announce our charity auction to benefit the International Elephant Foundation‘s mission to Stomp Out EEHV, a disease that is killing baby elephants. This disease recently claimed the life of 3 year old JP, the elephant nephew of Tai, star of Water for Elephants.

Up for charity auction on eBay s a major prize package that includes:

• Painted Self Portrait of Tai the Elephant
• Autographed Water for Elephants movie posted signed by the 4 main stars of the movie – Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz and of course, Tai the Elephant
  (note: this is Tai’s personal poster that was gifted to her from the cast, she is parting with it to help save future baby elephants.)
• Team Rosie Tote Bag and Pin

100% of the auction money will go directly to International Elephant Foundation to fund EEHV research.

Click here to go to eBay to view the auction!

Tai standing with the autographed movie poster

Tai autographing the movie poster

Tai standing with her self portrait painting

Tai painting her self portrait

Team Rosie Tote Bag and Pin

Thank you for bidding!

Auction brought to you by:

**Post comes from /waterforelephantsfilm.com.  **



~Robstenfan

Reese & Tai ("Rosie") in Vogue Magazine

See more at WaterforElephantsFilm

@jimshi809 via @TinkerStew via waterforelephantsfilm

twilightish.com

~Robstenfan

Help Raise Funds For ” The Elephant Sanctuary”

The Water for Elephants Fan Blog, is calling all Water for Elephants fans to help raise money for “The Elephant Sanctuary”. The goal is to raise $3,000.00 before the world premiere of Water for Elephants on 4/17/11.  Here’s info on how to help:

As fans of this beautiful story and soon to be major motion picture, we have an outstanding opportunity to raise funds for The Elephant Sanctuary.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered elephants. It is a non-profit organization, licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and accredited by the Association of Sanctuaries, designed specifically for old, sick or needy elephants who have been retired from zoos and circuses. Utilizing more than 2700 acres, it provides three separate and protected, natural-habitat environments for Asian and African elephants. Our residents are not required to perform or entertain for the public; instead, they are encouraged to live like elephants.

Go HERE to learn more about how to donate.

Source   Via  Via

twilightish.com

~Robstenfan

Rob, Christoph & Reese pics with Tai

Source

twilightish.com

~Robstenfan

Rob's WFE Press Conference Photocall

more after jump

Pictures of Rob from the WFE press junket

Is there any peanut left for Tai? ;) :: with Rob Pattinson talking about #WFE -She is an amazing actress!
Just wrapped w/ the Water For Elephants folks. Good day! My chat w/ Robert Pattinson will air on The Seven tomorrow.... 
Had an incredible conversation with Robert Pattinson -- will upload all of my WFE interviews later tonight! 
Just interviewed Robert Pattinson...absolutely hilarious dude! We talked about pick-up lines in the club!
Robert talks elephants and having a tan!
Robert's mom kept pics of her son with Tai
amayamario | JakesTakes | bdkreviews | tara3tv | Source | Source via RPLife
xoxo
Carrie

Robert Pattinson Answers Your Questions About "Water For Elephants"

So cute when he is around Tai

GoldenGlobes
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Carrie

Tai's trainer talks about WFE, Tai & Rob and more

Can you explain to us what your company “Have Trunk Will Travel” does exactly?

Gary Johnson: We have six elephants, five females and one breeding bull. Four babies were born with us and that’s very rare. That’s a huge achievement, because asian elephants are an endangered species. All over the world there are only about 35,000 of them left. We have eight full-time co-workers that take care of the elephants. Tai, an female, asian elephant is Rosie in “Water for Elephants”. All our elephants, apart from the bull, have played in lots of movies, ads and TV shows before. For Tai, movie sets and directors are nothing new. We’ve had her for 35 years now and because of the experience she has by now working with her is really pleasant.

Do you and Tai have to work hard in this movie?

Johnson:  Especially in this movie we’ve worked a lot. It was very exciting as well though. I loved everyone who worked on this movie. People were realy respectful and always friendly. The director Francis Lawrence was a real gentleman and did a great job in my opinion. He drove to our ranch in California a dozen times to watch the training and to spend time with Tai. That’s how he knew how to shoot the scenes with her later on.

How much time did Reese Witherspoon with Tai? The relationship between Marlena and Rosie is very important for the story right?

Johnson: Reese Witherspoon visited the ranch often to train with Tai, because she has some really physical scenes with her. She had to climb onto Tai, just how it is known from circuses when the girl sits on top of the elephant. Tai lay on her side and when she got up Reese had to learn to stand on her trunk. They had to train a few different options to climb on top then. In one scene Tai stands on her back legs and Reese directly beneath her. In another scene Tai does a headstand and Reese dances beneath her at the same time. That’s really complicated and we had to train those scenes with a choreographer. The timing had to be right. In another scene Reese stands on top of the elephant. Another time Tai sits on a base and stands on her back legs and Reese then climbs onto her back. They had to train that scene a very long time. Tai does things like that regularly and it’s part of her routine. She practices daily and a lot.

 

You can read the complete translated interview at Robsteners -and you can read the rinal one | Source (In German)
~Robstenfan

EW Outtakes and Detagged Photos

Quotes from EW

''[Water for Elephants] makes you think about opportunities and missed opportunities and how important it is to live a full life.'' —Reese Witherspoon

''That was the other thing about Water for Elephants. There was something about the posture of the '30s, something that I felt my body could fit into — it was quite languid, which I find easier. I think modern-day things generally, I don't understand. I can watch actors move and there's something, there's some kind of snappy thing to it and I don't... I'm not snappy. There is a lack of snappiness." —Robert Pattinson

''There's something about her. She's just this genuinely nice person. I don't know if she puts an effort into creating a nice aura, but her mood dissipates over the whole set. It was a completely different environment from when she wasn't there. All the kids and the animals were just drawn to her.'' —Pattinson talking about Witherspoon

''He's dedicated. And he loves what he does. It's amazing, he got such an incredible opportunity so young and he intends to use every bit of it to make creative choices from here on out.'' —Witherspoon talking about Pattinson

''Well, it's a boy thing, right? To have dirty fingernails and dirty hair, and his clothes were dirty all the time. It was a nice escape for him to be tan and in the sun all the time instead of the vampire gear.'' —Witherspoon talking about Pattinson
EW, gossip-dance
xoxo
Carrie

Rob on Leno For WFE Promotions

Full Episode:

NBC
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Carrie

Tai (Rosie) Had A Death in Her Family

.*this is really sad :(*

RIP Baby JP

It is with a heavy heart that I share the sad news that JP, nephew of Tai the Elephant, passed away at the tender age of 3 1/2. As the mother of a 3 1/2 year old myself, I can’t even begin to imagine the loss that Rosie, his Mommy, felt.
JP was born to Rosie, Tai’s sister, via artificial insemination because she was not able to conceive naturally. He was an absolute joy to his aunties Tai, Becky, Kitty and Dixie, as well as his human family at the ranch. He has an endless energy and enthusiasm that was a great source of delight to all those at the Have Trunk Will Travel Ranch.

Read more over at waterforelephantsfilm.com

*please make a donation.*

`Robstenfan

Reese's Favorite CoStar is...

Tai aka Rosie :D

Reese Witherspoon Says Her Favorite Co-Star Was an Elephant

Forget Paul Rudd or Owen Wilson. Reese Witherspoon says one of the best actors she's worked with was an elephant. 

The Water For Elephants actress loved working alongside the animal because it was both dangerous and challenging.

She said: “It was one of the best experiences of my career. I worked with her for three months just training. I had to get into shape -- I had no harness, no safety equipment, nothing. 

“It was literally just me and the elephant and I had to climb onto her. She’s 10 feet tall and over 900 pounds, and it was this exercise in trust. It’s a really beautiful thing where you learn to communicate with a creature non-verbally. She’s the big star of the movie.”

The film stars Reese as a circus performer whose horse dies, putting her act in jeopardy, until her husband -- the circus ringmaster -- buys her an elephant.

Reese, 34, added the elephant helps bring her character closer to Robert Pattinson’s in the film, when they meet because of the creature.

She added: “Robert Pattinson’s character comes in and he’s a vet and we end up being very interested in each other. It’s very romantic and beautiful.”

Zimbo
xoxo
Carrie

Why Rob took WFE Role

Robert Pattinson Took Role at 9,000 Pound Costar’s Urging

Robert Pattinson was reportedly unconvinced about starring in Water in Elephantsuntil the handsome actor came face-to-face with one of the film’s costars, Tai, a nearly 9,000-pound elephant.

In the upcoming film, Pattinson plays a veterinary student named Jacob who joins the circus. Initially, the Twilightstar was “non-committal until he saw the elephant,” the movie’s animal coordinator Paul ‘Sled’ Reynolds toldPeople. But once he “met Tai, he knew he wanted to do this movie. He absolutely adored that elephant.”

At right is a photo of Pattinson on-set with Tai.

Water for Elephants, which also stars Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, is set for release on April 22.

gossip cop
xoxo
Carrie