All you want to learn about theme park ‘elephants’ uncovered as workers in costumes

Need to know

Footage from Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City in China appears to show a pair of human ankles beneath one of the elephant costumes, leading viewers to realise they were actually performers all along

Everything you need to know

• Two ‘elephants’ at a Chinese theme park have been exposed as performers in costumes after eagle-eyed viewers spotted human ankles beneath the outfits.
• The bizarre incident occurred at Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City in Kaifeng, where visitors had long believed the animals were real. Footage showing the ‘elephants’ during a storytelling segment went viral after viewers noticed the telltale human body parts.
• Staff at the attraction cleared up confusion on 15th April, explaining the animals are props operated by “between two and four staff members working together inside the costume.” The park insisted it has never kept real elephants.
• Many viewers admitted shock at the revelation, having watched performances multiple times assuming the elephants were genuine. Others praised the ethical approach of using performers instead of live animals.
• The performance is part of an immersive experience combining Song Dynasty culture with martial arts entertainment. While some felt misled, others found the revelation made the show more interesting.
• In a separate incident, three people were sentenced for staging insurance fraud using a bear costume to fake damage to luxury cars in California. A wildlife biologist “concluded the animal shown was clearly a human in a bear suit,” according to investigators.

READ THE FULL STORY: Theme park rumbled as ‘elephants’ turn out to be staff in costumes