A circus trainer from Budapest, Hungary, has amazed audiences by showcasing his elephant’s remarkable abilities, all of which he attributes to a strong bond of “perfect trust” with the animal.
Rene Casselly, a seventh-generation show performer and animal trainer, has proven that even older elephants can learn impressive new tricks.
In captivating video footage, his elephant Kimba can assist Rene in a series of stunts, including dunking a basketball, flipping through the air, juggling, climbing a wall, and even letting Rene stand on his tusks.
Despite the complexity of these tricks, Rene assures that Kimba is healthy, happy, and well-cared for, enjoying the same living conditions as elephants in zoos.
He adds that Kimba’s training is based on positive reinforcement, similar to how dogs are trained, with rewards and treats for performing well.
“These videos highlight the incredible trust and connection between animals and humans. Together, we can achieve extraordinary things,” says Rene, who is 22 years old.
One of the stunts Rene is particularly proud of is when Kimba recently helped him dunk a basketball, a challenging act that required flawless teamwork and mutual respect.
He continues to push boundaries by teaching Kimba new tricks, such as successfully throwing a basketball from beyond the three-point line.
“Elephants are far more intelligent than many people realize,” Rene adds, “and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
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