PETA has released shocking footage of elephants being beaten and gouged with bullhooks ahead of the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament, an annual event which runs in Bangkok from March 8-11 this year.

The video shows trainers PETA said were preparing the elephants to compete in the tournament. The elephants are seen being hit and scraped with sharp steel-tipped rods “resembling fireplace pokers”.

PETA named several companies it said were sponsoring the “cruel” tournament, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, IBM, Dairy Queen, Hooters and Peroni. A list of corporate sponsors on the event’s website includes other brands such as Ferrari, NEC, Campari, Renaissance Hotels and Citi Group. Credit: PETA Asia Pacific via Storyful