Circus Elephant Death List

in Animals in Entertainment

From 1994 to 2016, at least 65 circus elephants have died premature deaths*.
[teaserbreak]

Name Age Sex Date Cause of Death
Mike 2 M 01/16 Virus called elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) at Ringling’s “conservation center”
Tova 46 F 11/15 Euthanized six weeks after Ringling transferred her to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. She lost 450 pounds following the transfer and developed colic twice while at the zoo. She was found to have a large bladder stone on necropsy.
Nina F 3/15 Euthanized after several years of declining health. Necropsy revealed tuberculosis lesions in her lungs and that she suffered from chronic renal disease.
Jewel 61 F 09/13 Euthanized at the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas, after performing with Ringling from 1954 to 2011, due to arthritis and severe musculoskeletal problems. She also tested positive for tuberculosis.
Susan 61 F 12/12 Euthanized “due to quality of life issues.” She also tested positive for tuberculosis.
Sid 45 F 10/12 Euthanized because of “declining health”
Minyak 46 F 06/12 Unknown
Banana 55 F 01/12 Euthanized because of “declining health”
Sabu 29 M 01/12 Euthanized due to complications from severe arthritis. He also tested positive for tuberculosis.
Louie 46 M 08/11 Euthanized due to “quality of life issues”
Putzi 50 F 07/11 Euthanized
Siam I 60 F 06/11 Euthanized because of “quality of life issues. She also tested positive for tuberculosis.
Lutzi 51 F 04/11 Euthanized
Josky 43 F 01/10 Euthanized
Calcutta II 62 ? 07/08 Euthanized
India 55 ? 09/06 Euthanized. She also tested positive for tuberculosis.
Sue 40 F 12/05 Adverse reaction to tranquilizer administered during blood tests
Bertha 11 days F 08/05 Unknown
Gildah 57 F 08/05 Unknown (Feld Entertainment refused a USDA recommendation to conduct a necropsy)
Lota 54 F 02/05 Tuberculosis only 2 months and 23 days after finally being released to a sanctuary
Roma 44 ? 10/04 Euthanized because of osteoarthritis (A necropsy revealed that Roma had tuberculosis)
Riccardo 8 months M 08/04 Euthanized after breaking both hind legs
Calcutta 2 53 ? 07/04 Aortic aneurysm
Jennie 5 F 04/04 Herpes virus
Connie 18 F 02/04 Infection that caused inflammation of the heart and brain
Barbara 22 F 02/04 Infection that caused inflammation of the heart and brain
Name Unknown ? ? 01/03 Euthanized because of osteoarthritis
King Tusk 57 M 12/02 Euthanized because of osteoarthritis
Birka 34 ? Euthanized due to abdominal neoplasia
Name Unknown ? ? 04/01 Chronic osteoarthritis
Name Unknown ? ? 04/01 Chronic osteoarthritis
Name Unknown ? ? 08/00 Degenerative osteoarthritis
Kenya 18 F 02/00 Intestinal problems
Teetchie 52 F 10/99 Euthanized due to multiple joints affected by osteoarthritis and an M. tuberculosis infection of the lung
Conti 54 F 09/99 Kidney failure
Pete (Petunia) 49 F 08/99 Kidney failure
Benjamin 4 M 07/99 Drowned when he stepped into a pond as he tried to move away from a trainer poking him with a bullhook
Dolly 40 F 09/98 Unknown
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
Seetna 30 F 05/96 Euthanized due to prolonged dystocia (difficult labor)
Ranni 53 ? 1995 Unknown
Cita 53 ? 1995 Unknown
Karnaudi 34 ? 1995 Unknown
Stoney 21 M 08/95 Complications from performance 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
Jenny 41 F 08/94 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.

Read the next article

Circus Season Sparks Controversy in New York Prompted by the 135th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in New York City