A Scottish wildlife photographer has vowed never to return to India after allegedly witnessing the shocking abuse of elephants during a trip to a wildlife reserve.
Snapper Norman Watson, 47, claimed he was horrified to see guides whipping the gentle giants with 5ft bamboo canes and beating them, leaving them 'screaming in agony'.
He also claims he spotted emaciated baby elephants chained to trees and in cages during the working holiday to Bandhavgarh - one of India's most popular national parks, known for its tigers - to photograph the big cats.
Scottish wildlife photographer Norman Watson travelled to a nature reserve in India to snap big cats but was shocked to find himself taking pictures of elephants being abused by guides carrying whips and bamboo canes
Norman, from Aberdeen, said: 'I felt so much anger, there were five people in the group and they witnessed it all, feeling the same as I do.
'We were shocked.
'The screams from the elephants when they were whipped put a shiver down my spine.
'They were in so much distress they were weeing themselves - while we were about 100 metres away, screaming for this to stop.'
Norman visited the Bandhavgarh nature reserve in April this year to photograph wild tigers but felt compelled to share the elephant abuse he witnessed as he could not believe it was happening in an area popular with animal lovers.
'I felt so much anger, there were five people in the group and they witnessed it all, feeling the same as I do,' said Norman
Sometimes up to six people were allowed to ride on an elephant at a time in Bandhavgarh - one of India's most popular national parks that is well known for its tiger population
He claims the guides, known as mahouts, repeatedly hit the elephants and whipped them with bamboo as they rode them - sometimes up to six people on an elephant at a time - and saw emaciated babies left chained up and in cages.
