A TOTAL of 10,000 people have signed a petition which calls for an elephant at Longleat to have a fellow elephant placed in her enclosure.

Social media group ‘Anne needs Elephants’ started the petition towards the end of last year and hit their initial target of 10,000 names earlier this month, before presenting it to Longleat.

The group feels that Anne, who has lived on her own for five years in solitary confinement, has been looked after well by Longleat but that she should no longer have to live in solitude.

Nicky Metson, one of the group’s administrators, said: “It’s very frustrating that Anne still doesn’t have a companion.

“We really hope this petition will make Longleat change their response, but if it doesn’t we will keep on going regardless. If the petition hits 100,000 names it will be heard in Parliament.

“Anne’s condition has improved since she was rescued and Longleat have done a good job of looking after her but she desperately needs a companion, especially in the winter, when she rocks from side to side.

“The case of Lucky the elephant in San Antonio proves that it can be done successfully. It would do Anne the world of good to have a companion.”

Anne moved to Longleat in 2011 after being rescued from a circus. The group has identified an elephant in Blackpool, named Kate, who is in a similar position to Anne and would make a suitable companion.

The Wiltshire Times could not get through to Longleat for a comment but in the past a spokesperson has said: “We are extremely confident that Anne's care and surroundings are what's best for her. Although some decisions we make may not be popular with some, we know that they are right for her and her very specific needs.

“Our rationale for this decision will never satisfy everyone but this difficult decision has been weighed, with Anne’s physical condition being of primary concern, and discussed at length with many internal and external stakeholders and we believe firmly that it is the right decision for Anne in her current physical situation.

"We can say for definite that Anne simply does not have the physical capacity to be moved and she will end her days at Longleat."