Over 25,000 people have signed a petition to save a baby elephant ‘forced to rave while tourists laugh’.

The ‘skeletal’ calf has to play musical instruments for visitors at Phuket Zoo in Thailand, and can be seen sucking its trunk in distress while not performing.

Footage from the zoo shows an elephant playing a harmonica while another hits a cymbal with a stick held in its trunk.

Activist group Moving Animals are campaigning for the baby elephant to be moved to a sanctuary.

‘The tiny infant is made to “perform” for tourists up to three-times-a-day in shows that include “raving” to loud music, “playing” musical instruments, and performing tricks,’ they said.

‘When she is not performing, she stands on display for tourists, all while silently sucking on her trunk for comfort – a sign of distress seen when infant elephants are without their mother.

‘We must stop this from being her fate for the rest of her life.’

They dubbed the infant a ‘real life Dumbo’, saying: ‘We watched as tourists laughed and took selfies, all while this emaciated baby elephant stood with her eyes closed, quietly sucking on her trunk.

‘The cruel life that “Dumbo” is set to endure is heartbreaking, and so we’re calling for her release to a sanctuary.

‘We hope that one day soon she can live in a place where she can feel happiness and peace, without the threat of abuse or being forced to perform.’

Find the petition here.

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