The fate of thirty baby elephants in South Africa, allegedly mistreated by their owners, has taken a new turn.

The elephants were originally captured in Botswana and taken to South Africa, where it's alleged they were deprived of water and prodded with sharp sticks.

In response, a judge last week decided the elephants should be handed over to animal rights groups.

But now, he has changed his mind and ruled that seven can be exported to zoos in Germany.

The German government is under pressure from animal rights groups to refuse to allow the elephants to be imported.

Protestors have gathered outside the German embassy in Pretoria chanting wild animals belong in the wild.