- Sven Hannawald faced heated backlash following his refreshing dip with elephants.
Sven Hannawald, a renowned figure in German skiing, gained legendary status by becoming the first athlete to sweep all four competitions in the Vierschanzentournee back in 2002. Currently, he serves as a ski jumping expert for ARD.
However, a vacation video has stirred up controversy. It features Hannawald and his son bathing with an elephant at the Hungarian "Kimba Elephant Park". Sven climbs onto the elephant's trunk, while his son sits on its back. The elephant then propels Hannawald into the air, with Hannawald captioning the moment as, "Happy weekend launch for you" on Instagram.
Criticism of Sven Hannawald
This footage did not sit well with everyone. Animal rights activists accused Hannawald of serious abuses, with one user commenting, "Poor elephant. I truly feel sorry that people mistreat animals like this." Another critic opined, "This comes across more as animal abuse. Wild animals should not be subjected to human entertainment."
Criticism of elephants in entertainment is not novel; animals often suffer under subpar conditions in some countries. Following the activists' outcry, supporters of Hannawald then weighed in with more sympathetic viewpoints, "I view animal abuse differently, such as the confinement of wild animals in the circus, forced to live their lives in cages. The elephants in this Hungarian park, however, have it much better - they're free to roam."
Kimba Elephant Park under scrutiny
It's worth noting that the "trampoline" moment appears rehearsed between the elephant and its trainer. The trainer directs the elephant's trunk movements, and no visible signs of violence are evident.
The person in the video is alleged to be the trainer's father, while the actual trainer, Rene Casselly (also known from "Ninja Warrior" on RTL), remains unseen. Casselly has a controversial past - in 2020, two of his elephants passed away under mysterious circumstances during transport, leading to recurring criticism from animal rights activists.
Despite the rehearsed nature of the interaction, the actions depicted in the video have sparked concerns about animal cruelty. The elephant's role in the activity could be seen as a form of exploitation, leading to criticism from animal rights activists. Furthermore, the history of controversy surrounding the trainer, Rene Casselly, and the sudden deaths of two elephants under his care, add fuel to the accusations against Hannawald and the Kimba Elephant Park.
