Harrowing video emerged of a group of villagers brutally butchering an elephant to death in Kenya.
The clip, which has been circulating on social media since Monday, shows the men wielding axes and machetes towards the elephant's hind legs.
They repeatedly slashed the injured animal as it wailed in pain on the ground.
Some people are heard cheering and clapping hands in the background.
The elephant tried swinging its bleeding legs while the villagers chopped chunks of flesh off its legs.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was alerted of the video and has launched an investigation into the matter.
Ngugi Gecaga, spokesman for the KWS, told Standard Digital that the unfortunate event did not happen recently.
He said: "We are aware of the unfortunate video that is circulating on social media.
"Preliminary investigations indicate that this is a very old clip contrary to what the public is being led to believe.
"We shall share more once we get full information from our people on the ground."
He said the video is believed to be from Kithoko, Meru County.
Wild animals are protected from cruelty in Chapter Five the 2010 Kenyan Constitution under Environment and Natural resources.
The parliament of Kenya passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (2012) which prohibits the public from fighting or causing any physical harm to both domestic and wild animals.