Theme park rumbled as ‘elephants’ develop into workers in costumes
This is the moment two ‘elephants’ at a theme park were exposed as performers in costumes after their human “ankles” were spotted on camera.
The bizarre incident took place at Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City in Kaifeng, in central China’s Henan province, where visitors had long believed the animals featured in the show were real.
Footage shared online shows two ‘elephants’ appearing on stage during a storytelling segment before a traditional molten iron fireworks performance. But eagle-eyed viewers quickly noticed something unusual – a pair of human ankles clearly visible beneath one of the costumes.
The clip quickly went viral, sparking heated debate on social media.
Many viewers admitted they were shocked, saying they had watched the performance multiple times and always assumed the elephants were genuine. Others, however, praised the park for using performers instead of real animals, arguing it was a more ethical approach.
Staff at the attraction moved to clear up the confusion on 15th April, insisting the park has never kept elephants. They explained that the animals seen in the show are props operated by between two and four staff members working together inside the costume.
The performance is part of a wider immersive experience at the park, which combines Song Dynasty culture with martial arts-themed entertainment, live shows, and traditional folk acts. While some visitors felt misled, others said the revelation made the show even more interesting.
Meanwhile, three people were recently sentenced after staging a bizarre insurance claim using a bear costume to fake damage to luxury cars. The culprits, from the Glendale area, California, USA, ignited suspicions from authorities two years ago, the Daily Star previously reported.
The California Department of Insurance reportedly said it opened an investigation in 2024 when an insurer flagged a suspicious report.
According to the report, a Rolls-Royce Ghost had been wrecked after a bear supposedly climbed into the vehicle.
Grainy CCTV appeared to show an animal inside the car, and submitted photographs showed scratches to the interior of a model that can cost more than £320,000 new.
However, investigators reportedly said the evidence did not add up.
The footage was consequently sent to a California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, who “concluded the animal shown was clearly a human in a bear suit”, according to the department’s release.
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