Elephant in Oklahoma SUV Collision has History of Spooking/Breaking Loose

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elephant in Oklahoma SUV Collision has History of Spooking/Breaking Loose; Owner facing federal charges for similar elephant rampage

IDA Calls for Confiscation of Elephants

Enid, Oklahoma (November 5, 2009) – The elephant who escaped from a circus last night in Enid, Oklahoma and was involved in a collision with an SUV has a history of breaking loose, according to In Defense of Animals (IDA).

In June of 2008, the elephant Kamba and another elephant named Conga, spooked during a tornado when they were performing with Culpepper & Merriweather Circus in WaKeeney, Kansas. The elephants  broke from their chains and were on the loose for three hours, running through town, causing property damage and frightening residents. The elephants were recaptured and loaded onto trucks after repeatedly being shot with a tranquilizer gun.

The owner of the two elephants, Doug Terranova, a Dallas, Texas-based exotic animal trainer, is facing charges from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for federal violations related to the Kansas incident and repeated failure to adequately care for elephants, tigers, lions and other animals.

IDA, an international advocacy organization, today urged the USDA to revoke Terranova’s license to exhibit exotic animals and confiscate the elephants and other animals in his charge.

“In Defense of Animals is calling on the USDA to confiscate these elephants before they hurt someone or are further subjected to life threatening situations,” said Suzanne Roy, IDA program director. “These elephants could very well have killed someone or been killed themselves. The USDA is responsible for the safety of the public and animals – action is needed immediately.”

“This dangerous incident is yet another reminder of why elephants should not be in circuses,” added Roy, noting that elephants and other animals used for circuses are forced to perform unnatural acts through fear and violence and live traumatic and miserable lives.

Kamba and Conga were born wild in Africa, captured and exported to the United States in the early 1980′s for use in the circus industry.

A copy of the USDA charges against Terranova is available upon request.

For more information about elephants in circuses and zoos, see www.helpelephants.com.

Contacts:
Suzanne Roy, IDA Program Director, 919-697-9389, sroy@idausa.org
Deb Robinson, IDA Captive Elephant Specialist, 860-836-7761, deborahrobinson@idausa.org