Asian elephants are usually the older ones, while young African elephants are used too. In fact, many of these youngsters will have experienced the trauma of seeing their families killed, and may have been tied to their dead mothers before being collected and sold to a dealer. This is the traditional source for baby elephants. If the circuses really cared, there are baby elephant orphanages in some African countries where the elephants could go. Instead, they come to British circuses and zoos, to be exploited for profit.
All training goes on behind closed doors.
In fact what we see when the circuses invite us to see training is actually a rehearsal. This is merely a practise for acts already learned. We have talked to ex-circus workers, who have told us that animals are beaten. Whips, tight collars, electric prods and other tools are used regularly. The film also shows some of the implements used on elephants.