Tai
SpeciesAsian elephant[1]
SexFemale
BornNovember 4, 1968
Thailand
DiedMay 17, 2021(2021-05-17) (aged 52–53)
Fredericksburg, Texas, U.S.[2]
Known forThe films Operation Dumbo Drop, Larger than Life and Water for Elephants.
Weight3600 kg (8,000 lb) (1995)[1]
4200 kg (9,200 lb) (2011)[3]
Height269 cm (8 ft 10 in)
Official site (Archived)

Tai (November 4, 1968 – May 7, 2021) was an Asian elephant. She was best known for portraying Bo Tat in the film Operation Dumbo Drop (1995), Vera in Larger than Life (1996), and Rosie in Water for Elephants (2011). Her name was derived from her country of birth, Thailand. Tai was captured in the wild and placed into captivity.[2] She was owned by Gary and Kari Johnson of Have Trunk Will Travel, Inc., a privately funded organization that generates income through elephant rides, shows and events, as well as film and commercial appearances. In 2020, Have Trunk Will Travel was rebranded as The Preserve.

Career

Tai had an uncredited film appearance as a circus elephant in Big Top Pee-wee (1988) and a minor role in The Jungle Book (1994), where she scares off some poachers. She followed this up playing the major role of Bo Tat in Operation Dumbo Drop in 1995.[1][4] The American Humane Association rated the treatment of animals in the film as acceptable.[1] The scene in which Tai is sedated she is actually just obeying her trainers instructions to lie down. The sounds of her snoring in the film is not actually coming from Tai, but was dubbed in during post-production. All scenes that show Tai in danger were carefully staged, and the boat in which she travels in the film was pre-tested to make sure it would support her 8,000 pound (3600 kg) weight. To ensure she remained healthy, all of Tai's food, drinking water, and even her bathing water, was shipped from the U.S. to Thailand, where filming was taking place.[1]

Tai portrayed the major role of Vera in the 1996 comedy Larger than Life alongside Bill Murray,[5][6][7] and had a minor role in George of the Jungle in 1997, where she can be seen being ridden by Brendan Fraser and Leslie Mann, and again with Fraser himself through Tweety Bird's jungle in Looney Tunes: Back in Action in 2003.

Tai's performance in Water for Elephants in 2011 was praised.[8] It was the second time Tai, Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson had all worked on the same film, as all three had been filmed in Vanity Fair in 2004, though Pattinson's part was edited out of the final cut.[3]

One of Tai's paintings as well as an autographed poster for Water for Elephants was auctioned off on eBay to raise awareness of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.[3] The money Tai raised from the auction was given to the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) which distributed it to the appropriate labs and research facilities actively working to find a cure for EEHV.[9]

Tai died in May 2021, aged 53,[10] at The Preserve facility in Fredericksburg, Texas.[2] The Preserve sent out an email on May 7 to their subscribers saying she had died after "a brief illness"; a spokesperson from the group later said she had died from kidney failure. She was the second elephant to die in at The Preserve that year, reigniting allegations of animal cruelty at the facility.[2]

Controversy

Tai's appearances in film were frequently condemned by animal rights organizations People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), though representatives from the American Humane Association (AHA) frequently stated Tai was treated well on set. Such claims and defense were made for Tai's appearance in Britney Spears 2008 music video Circus,[11] the 2009 film Exit Through the Gift Shop (during which Tai was covered in paint),[12][3] the 2011 film Water for Elephants[13] and the television series Westworld in 2018.[10] Protests were also made regarding the 2011 film Zookeeper[14] which Tai was reported to be featured in.[15] However the film's director, Frank Coraci, denied using any elephants from Have Trunk Will Travel in filming.[14] The elephant used in the film is Tai's Have Trunk Will Travel herd mate, Rosie.[16]

Following Tai's appearances in Water for Elephants, controversy erupted regarding concerns she was mistreated prior to filming.[4] A video released by the Animal Defenders International (ADI) in 2011 shows footage of Tai allegedly being shocked with handheld stun guns and beaten around the body and legs with bull hooks, while in the care of Have Trunk Will Travel in 2005. The ADI contacted AHA, urging them to re-evaluate how they assess the use of animals in films and the statements being made which effectively endorse the use of performing animals.[17] Have Trunk Will Travel responded to the video stating, "The video shows heavily edited and very short snippets, obviously taken surreptitiously six years ago, purporting mistreatment of our elephants. If there was truly any abuse going on why wait six minutes, much less six years?"[18] In 2018, Have Trunk Will Travel relocated their business from California to Texas after California introduced a law banning the use of bull hooks in training animals.[2]

Filmography

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Operation Dumbo Drop". American Humane Association. May 24, 1995. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gubbins, Theresa (May 12, 2021). "Elephant that was in film Water For Elephants dies suddenly at Texas facility". CultureMap Dallas. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Five Film Facts: 'Water for Elephants'". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 "'Water for Elephants' Elephant Was Abused in 2005, Says Animal Rights Group". hollywoodreporter.com. May 9, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ Ebert, Roger (November 1, 1996). "Larger Than Life". rogerebert.suntimes.com. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  6. ↑ Holden, Stephen (November 1, 1996). "Larger Than Life (1996)". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  7. ↑ Berardinelli, James (1996). "Larger Than Life". reelviews.net. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  8. ↑ Errigo, Angie. "Water For Elephants". Empire. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  9. ↑ "2012 Elephant Conservation and Research Funding Support". elephantconservation.org. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  10. 1 2 Ganz, Jami (May 13, 2021). "Elephant featured in 'Westworld,' 'Water for Elephants' has died". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ Montgomery, James (December 9, 2008). "Britney Spears' 'Circus' Video Taken To Task By PETA, But Trainers Insist Animals Were Treated Well". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  12. ↑ Bowes, Peter (September 14, 2006). "'Guerrilla artist' Banksy hits LA". BBC. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Was 'Elephant's' pachyderm treated humanely on set?". MSNBC. April 22, 2011. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  14. 1 2 Gonzales, Sandra (July 7, 2011). "PETA protests at 'Zookeeper' premiere. Director says animals were treated 'with love and respect'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ "'Zookeeper' Premiere Picketed By PETA, Critiqued By Film Critics". The Huffington Post. July 10, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Rosie". The Preserve. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Movie Star Electric Shocked". ADI. May 7, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  18. ↑ Griffiths, Ian J (May 10, 2011). "Elephant trainers accused of abusing animal star of Water for Elephants". The Guardian. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
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