Filmmakers behind Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson's movie Water For Elephants have distanced themselves from reports one of the animals featured in the drama was once abused.

Campaigners from the Animal Defenders International (ADI) group have released footage which purportedly shows 42-year-old Asian elephant Tai being mistreated by trainers in 2005.

In the clip, the elephant, who also appeared in Operation Dumbo Drop and Larger Than Life, is allegedly beaten with hooks and given electric shocks to perform headstands.

ADI president Jan Creamer spoke out against the film, insis...