Get The Facts:
Circus Elephant Death List
From 1994 to 2005, at least 31 circus elephants have died premature deaths*.
| Name | Age | Sex | Date | Cause of Death |
| Sue | 40 | F | 12/05 | Adverse reaction to tranquilizer administered during blood tests |
| Gildah | 57 | F | 08/05 | Unknown |
| Lota | 54 | F | 02/05 | Tuberculosis only 2 months and 23 days after finally being released to a sanctuary |
| Riccardo | 8 months | M | 08/04 | Euthanized after breaking both hind legs |
| Jennie | 5 | F | 04/04 | Herpes virus |
| Kenya | 18 | F | 02/00 | Intestinal problems |
| Conti | 54 | F | 09/99 | Kidney failure |
| Pete (Petunia) | 49 | F | 08/99 | Kidney failure |
| Benjamin | 4 | M | 07/99 | Drowning? |
| Kenya | 13 | F | 04/98 | Injury of questionable origin |
| Kenny | 3 | M | 01/98 | Gastrointestinal infection? Herpes virus? |
| Sneeze | 27 | F | 12/97 | Kidney failure |
| Heather | 8 | F | 08/97 | Incompetent animal husbandry |
| Ola | 40 | F | 03/97 | Died after foot surgery |
| Name Unknown | ? | F | 1997 | Herpes virus? |
| Name Unknown | ? | F | 1997 | Herpes virus? |
| Tunga | 32 | M | 09/96 | Unknown |
| Hattie | 27 | F | 08/96 | Tuberculosis |
| Joyce | 47 | F | 08/96 | Tuberculosis |
| Bandula | 30 | F | 06/96 | Euthanized after suffering 26 years with arthritis |
| Stoney | 21 | M | 08/95 | Complications from training injury |
| Mary | 50+ | F | 04/95 | “Collapsed and died” |
| Jockey | 20 | M | 03/95 | Shot to death |
| Rhonda | 9 | F | 03/95 | Burned to death |
| Mike | ? | M | 03/95 | Burned to death |
| Lois | 24 | F | 01/95 | “Foot infection spread through her body” |
| Sahib | 20 | M | 01/95 | Killed because he was “unmanageable” |
| Bombay | 40+ | F | 1994 | Unknown |
| Dumbo | 43 | F | 12/94 | Tuberculosis |
| Mona | 26 | F | 10/94 | Metabolic disease |
| Kay | 50 | F | 10/94 | Kidney ailment |
| Amy | ? | F | 09/94 | Unknown |
| Tyke | 21 | F | 08/94 | Shot to death |
| Siam | ? | M | 07/94 | “Euthanized” |
| Assam | 24 | M | 06/94 | “Died under sedation” |
Most circus elephants are chained by at least two legs for 95% of their lives in a space no larger than an automobile. They are unchained only to perform. The natural behavior patterns of the elephant, which have evolved over thousands of years, are denied by this confined, chained, and dominated life. To disrupt and prevent the natural behavior of these intelligent, social creatures is not only inhumane and cruel, but stressful to the individual animal as well.
* Information regarding the deaths and injuries of captive elephants is difficult to obtain. This list is therefore probably incomplete.
List compiled by The Elephant Alliance; 6265 Cardeno Drive; La Jolla, CA 92037; 858-454-7989; and from other sources.
