Saturday, July 22, 2006

The big news of yesterday

Sanctuary elephant kills its handler


By LEON ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

A 36-year-old woman whose love for pachyderms led her from her native Maine to rural Lewis County, Tenn., was attacked and killed Friday morning at a preserve for aging elephants, authorities said.

A man who also handles the 22 Asian and African elephants at The Elephant Sanctuary outside Hohenwald also was injured and hospitalized late Friday at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia.


Because the employees' next of kin had not been notified Friday night, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Lewis County Sheriff's Department would not release their names.

Posted by Buckles at 7/22/2006 08:15:00 AM

46 comments:

Bob Cline said...

I have no comment on what they do or how they do it, but with the animal rights push against the handling of elephants, I am interested in whether they use an ankus or not. I seriously doubt that a feather duster was going to help in this case.
Bob

22 July, 2006 09:14
Buckles said...

Two phrases come to mind:
"She won't hurt me because she knows I love her" and
"Do not try this at home!".

22 July, 2006 10:41
24-HOUR-MAN said...

I want to know why when it happens on a Circus, or even a Zoo, "somebody", did something to the animal. Now, "it's just one of those things"!!!!

22 July, 2006 10:45
Anonymous said...

I think that most people who know much about working elephants have been holding their breath, knowing that it was only a matter of time before just this kind of accident happen at TES or out in California. Certainly TES will no longer get away with operating virtually unreegulated. In all liklihood there will be lawsuits. And probably for the first time Ms Buckley will need to actually spell out her management methods and protocols. It seems likely that TES won't be acquiring any new elephants real soon.

22 July, 2006 12:54
Buckles said...

The spin on this unfortunate but totally predictable incident should prove intresting.
The young lady will be placed in immediate martyrdom, having sacrificed her life to thwart evil doers (in this case zoo people)and in the long run prove to be valuable source of income.

22 July, 2006 13:12
Anonymous said...

My feeling about what Buckly is doing is basicaly "what the hell was anyone else doing for elephants that had been apart of the industry?" Shipping them down to South American hell hole circuses hardly makes the point that we care about their well being. Her mistake is that she tried to pander to the activists to raise money. Her place could have been the perfect solution for old animals and those not suitable for display.
Rejoicing at the death of a handler is a low tactic that is more suited to Peta. So for all the posters clapping their hands in glee at this development, why not put your money where your mouths are and send a check to Riddle, or someone you DO approve of. There's a few hundred elephants left in this country that are going to need someplace to go and if the peformers who made a living from them wont support their retirement, their are obviously many many AR activists who will.

22 July, 2006 13:59
Anonymous said...

This might be the way out for buckley as she finally realizes she bit off more then she can chew. Anyone think of that? I have not read where the young lady was being ridiculed by anyone!! Tipical way peta has of putting words in the mouths of someone who never said a word.

22 July, 2006 14:18
Buckles said...

The Tennessee Fish & Game is cetainly scambling to cover it's ass, comparing elephants with dairy cattle.
Having been swept up into a "feel good" situation they no doubt neglected to check into Mz Buckley's prior experience with dangerous elephants.

22 July, 2006 14:31
Anonymous said...

When did the TFG ever know the difference between an elephant and a cow? There are cows right next to the sanctuary. Maybe thats why they get confused.

22 July, 2006 14:54
Anonymous said...

Deaths blamed on large animals -- when they occur in secluded settings -- deserve the dignity of a fair and square, very quiet, methodical investigation by people who visit the scene and know what they are talking about, same as any other sudden, violent deaths.

One reporter's "attack" is another man's "accident" -- and maybe we never will hear an accurate description.

More power to the exhibitors who welcome visitors and work often in public. Secrecy cloaking TES has never been public spirited. We can only hope people shocked by this news will seek out opportunities to visit performing elephants to learn what's true.
Lotliza

22 July, 2006 15:17
Anonymous said...

Rest assured buckley will not put Winkie down. Gary Fink donates $10,000 every year for Winkies care. At least she is safe for now. Lets hope mr. Fink lives a long time for Winkies sake.

22 July, 2006 15:24
Anonymous said...

Consider this---because there was an unfortunate death involved the publicity is going to be world-wide, but we haven't heard about the problem elephants kicking and knocking around people at the Buckley place prior to this incident. There is no doubt that people have been beaten up before, but we just didn't hear about it. "Touchy-feeling" only works on a honeymoon, it has no place in the real world.

22 July, 2006 15:41
Anonymous said...

In regards to the elephant Sue, the Tenn. Fish and Game required blood to be taken before the Hawthorn elephants could enter that state. The elephants wer sedated by Hawthorn's vet of the past 17 years. USDA'a vet was only there to verify that I handed her the prober blood samples for spinning. Freda was sedated and up in 11 min. Sue was given a reversal 4 min. after sedation, but could not rise. After death, the necropcy showed that she suffered from "capture myopthy", a sympton that Buckles is familiar with. I have been told that it occurs very infrequently in captive elephant's, and is a little bit more common is wild elephants, particularily Africans. Tenn. waived the blood requirement for the remaining elephant Billie, at Ms Buckley urging. If they could have assured me that the same thing would happen twice, I would have administered the drug to Billie myself.

22 July, 2006 15:54
Anonymous said...

I'll bet Walter Cook, TFG Chief Field Inspector, has his hands full now. Having dealt with Walter many times-and concluding he is the Barney Fife of his field-I can only hope his "only by the book" tactics will keep him busy for the next ten years sorting out the paperwork with this mess. By the way, how many elephants left at Hawthorn now?

22 July, 2006 17:59
Anonymous said...

I don't think anyone rejoices at a death like this, no matter where it happens -- because it negatively impacts everyone working with elephants anywhere. What has seemed to be a lack of accountability at TES has always been disturbing -- maybe because most of us are very familiar with the highly public scrutiny associated with APHIS records. The news story reporting yesterday's events raises still more questions on methodologies. Elephants have never been my animals, but years ago working as a swing keeper even I was taught some basic precautions working with elephants -- after my coworking let me get knocked down once -- which seem to have been lacking in this instance. And that'w what made the unfortunate accident predictable. Managing elephants according to the philosophy publicly espoused by TES leaves a lot of room for accidents. Taking an elephant that already had a long history of problems, then trying to treat an injury near the eye without using precautions either unavailable at TES, or deemed "cruel" by ideologues left the door wide open. "Trust" is not a safety net. Frankly would it have been awful to chain the damned elephant? The handler might still be alive, and the elephant might be back in her bucolic TN pasture.

22 July, 2006 18:22
Anonymous said...

I have talked with Carol Buckley on the phone before. She somehow got my name and number, and called me about one of the Miller elephants which got into a fight on the Lewis show. She accused the Show as being responsible, and it happened to be something I witnessed first hand.

This lady thinks all elephants are beautiful and loveable creatures. She doesn't realize the danger they can pose, and obviously, doesn't realize why they are at her place to begin with.

I can understand someone like Scott Riddle, Gary Jacobs, or some person who has been around elephants in a breeding farm or a sanctuary. These "Doo gooders" are playing Russian Roulet.
John Lewis

22 July, 2006 18:52
Anonymous said...

Speaking of the Hawthorn elephants, I have heard that Cuneo has won a certain Lawsuit and is able to keep his 2 remaining and also get back the ones he lost? Is this true?

22 July, 2006 22:09
Anonymous said...

No, that is not true. Nick, the male was kept here because no facility was found which could provide for him. A female who spent a lot of time around Rex William's males was kept as a companion for Nick. Anyone who know's her, knows she has done an admirable job of "wearing the pant's ", in the family. Proper facilities are currently being reviewed for the eventual placemet of the pair.

23 July, 2006 07:45
Anonymous said...

Joanna Burke (the lady that was killed) is no relation to you is she Wade?

23 July, 2006 09:17
Anonymous said...

I have three wonderful son's, and no daughters. And although I have a number of ex-wives, that name does not ring a bell.

23 July, 2006 09:53
Anonymous said...

http://www.fairviewobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060723/NEWS01/607230382/1321/MTCN06

"It would compound things to lose Winkie, as well (as Burke)," said Florence Dunavant of Nashville. "Winkie is a troubled elephant and has been for years. We made her that way because of the way she's been treated at zoos. (But) she has begun to really come around. ... I just can't believe she intentionally hurt the handler.

"I can guarantee this, that Winkie is grieving intensely. I haven't talked to anyone there, but I know how she feels about Scott (Blais), and I'm sure she is devastated," said Dunavant, who creates embroideries of the elephants to sell online as a fundraiser.

23 July, 2006 09:57
Anonymous said...

How does a "devastated' elephant look? Has anyone every ever seen one?

23 July, 2006 11:26
Anonymous said...

So...what...zoos are now more evil than circuses or equally evil? I'm guessing Winkie is a bit more annoyed at being shut in the barn than she is disturbed by Scott's medical condition. This is exactly the kind of ridulous statement that leads one to wonder if these people understand animals at all.


Does anybody have the TWRA/TN Code appling to elephants handy in a digital form? I wonder if news organizations are even aware that TES operates in techincal violation of safety standards by virtue of a grandfather clause exemption? If TES did not enjoy that exemption would this incident have still resulted in a loss of life? I wonder if TES contributors and supporters are aware of that exemption?

23 July, 2006 12:29
Anonymous said...

Don't know the situation there, but I know animals definitely miss their owners/keepers/trainers. I've seen it 100 times with my own animals. I remeber when Roy Bush left Hannefords, Chandra and Ina were dead still for days, and when he came for a visit, I thought the walls of the building were going to come down, they were so happy to see him again. I've also seen dogs show real remorse. Once, I was bitten (not because the dog was vicious, but because I stepped on its tail) He nuzzled and licked the spot where he had bitten. So, it's perfectly believable to me that an elephant can miss it's handler and show remorse. And, after 45 years around animals, wild and domestic, I DO understand them quite well.

23 July, 2006 14:56
Anonymous said...

i have to say, buckles hit it on the head with, she wont hurt me she knows me.and i highly dout that elephant is grieving,but thinking she got away with it.She probably is weighing up the next mark.(trunk hugger)

23 July, 2006 15:05
Anonymous said...

Looks like Winkie will have to stay in that 2 million dollar barn if she wants to or not. Bit buckley makes all the other employees play kissy face with the rest of the elephants to show how much trust they have in the other elephants. Is there one elephant there who has not killed or attacked a human being? Six years and no rehab!! It ain't going to happen people. Would Scott have used a hook or hot shot if it would have saved Joanna's life? Too late now to find out. These people will have to live with this for the rest of their lives. Hopefully the elephants won't make the choice of who gets to live the longest. If Winkie took out Joanna the rest are setting ducks.

23 July, 2006 15:32
Anonymous said...

I don't doubt that animals grieve for lost companions (human) that they rather like. But Winkie's history suggests that she doesn't much like anybody. The idea that non-human species feel "guilt" is a stretch. Right and wrong are uniquely human moral concepts. We can certainly teach some animals "good" (praise, reward, etc.) versus "bad" (consequences and correction) but that doesn't make good versus bad a moral decision -- it means that after a "bad" behavior if consequences don't immediately follow some "good" behaviors may ward off a correction. When "bad" behavior has no consquences a smart animal, as Tim Commerford points out, probably feels like it "got away with it." The whole problem with management protocols at places like TES is that there aren't any "bad" behaviors. And there are never any consequences that an animal can attach to a behavior. That's all well and good in an environment where animals are never handled, but it looks mighty dangerous in a setting where they are handled.

23 July, 2006 17:17
Buckles said...

I'm sure that Mr. Blais is a much smarter man than he was 48 hours ago.
Hopefully he can get the word to his staff that elephants are not to be hugged, fondled or played with.

23 July, 2006 17:23
Anonymous said...

It is an interesting thought if animals grieve; what if their handy work came back to life would they even freak out? I’m sure that if Timmy and Lassie fell into dried up well, and Timmy died in the fall, that Lassie would eat Timmy before she starved to death. Poor girl would be all depressed and still thirsty.

23 July, 2006 18:53
Bob Cline said...

In an article I found on the internet this evening, Mr Blias has a broken ankle, cuts, and bruises. He will be OK. Officials say Winkie's fate lies with the Board of the Sanctuary not with the Officials.

23 July, 2006 19:10
Anonymous said...

It is safe to presume that there were no leg chains on Winkie when she attacked her caretakers.

Buckley's place is vulnerable to a major lawsuit for providing an unsafe workplace for the employees. They had an elephant with a known history of violence and unpredictable behavior, they allowed the elephant to be totally unrestricted around humans. They are grossly negligent for allowing this situation to occur. Their actions demonstrate their priority: the elephant before the human.

According to the Buckley website the deceased caretaker is to be buried on the grounds. They should partition off a bit of the property and have make their own cemetary because if they don't change their ways there is going to be more caretakers to bury.

24 July, 2006 00:52
Anonymous said...

At the 2000 Elephant Managers Association conference in Syracuse NY. There was a panel Discussion on the use of "Tools of the Trade". Mr. Blais was on the panel along with a USDA rep, and 2 elephant handlers / managers. An attendee asked the following question to Mr. Blais (this is being copied exactly as it is written in the conference proceedings)"If you were near an elephant that is attacking another elephant or human being, what tool would you pick up?
Mr. Blais's response was "I've told my colleagues that if I'm being attacked by an elephant, don't get involved. Within your facility you should know what each elephant manager would want if he/she were being attacked by an elephant.

24 July, 2006 08:51
Anonymous said...

I'll go out on a limb and play the devil's advocate. Seems to me that the bottom line is that chains/no chains, bull hooks/no bull hooks, experience(there have been many, many experienced trainers killed or injured)/no experience, zoo/circus, wild/captive - some elephants kill people just like some pit bulls take the faces off on kids and some don't. With I click of the mouse, I could find 100 instances of death by elephant. There's no "I told you so"s about it. It's just the way it is.

24 July, 2006 09:23
Anonymous said...

OK most of the time I find my self biting my tongue but ….
Why is it when people what to humanize animals they can see ,in animals, all the traits that we as humans say make us human and at the same time ignore the debasing inhuman acts committed by our species? ANIMALS never do such things. Animals unlike man NEVER kill except for food, or take pleasure in killing….. EXCUSE ME!!! Who has not seen a cat PLAYING with a mouse? The dogs trained to be mousers are NOT having fun but are in fact suffering extreme emotional distress ….NOT!
Animals can 1. Learn what it is fun or beneficial, (I use these terms very liberally for it humanizes them.) Or 2. Every now and then you get the psychopath, or and animal that is just not RIGHT. ( I have often wondered why dogs and cats ,large or small, eat some of the new born??? Do they instinctually know something? If so I saw it in a cousin when he was a babe in arms, …….no I didn’t eat him, but I digress.)
Most “problem” elephants fall into the first category. I worked one that was a classic example of the first, in Brazil. She acted as if I was the second coming, but would go after kids and adults who didn’t know what they were doing. When I asked the guy that worked her, a juggler by trade, how he managed. He told me that after being knocked down many times and his wife getting her hip broken he said “just got really mad and hit her on the head with my stick several times really hard, but please don’t tell the boss.”
The psychos are another matter. If you have the right temperament you will do fine with some and with the others…. May you know when it is time to dig a hole…..OK I’ll be a hard a@@ and say whether the psycho be animal are “human”.
Everything I have ever heard of Buckley causes me to have ill fillings for her and her whole operation. But at the same time it is horrific to think of anyone being killed by an elephant and our prayers should go to the woman’s family.
In closing.. One question,,,, ???? Why is it when these touchy filly people try to touch and fill the REAL world, all they seem to touch is there imagination?

24 July, 2006 09:29
Anonymous said...

And, to add - you mark my words, this death will be used by the groups seeking legislation as another reason why it's not safe to have elephants around the public - rides, circus, etc.

24 July, 2006 09:32
Anonymous said...

If you're asking us to mark your words, Anonymous, why can't you sign your name to what you say?

24 July, 2006 14:51
GaryHill said...

I can remember the stupidist thing I ever did around an elephant. Back in 82 or 83 I was at the Dr. Pepper Circus at the State Fair of Texas to shoe or trim a couple of Joanne Pinsons Appys. Buckles had the elephants there and was in his trailer right next to them. Well I had my brand new wife with me and I walked up to George who was on the end of the picketline. Of course I spoke to him as I always had but he hadn't seen me in a about 2years. Anyway he let me play with his tongue as we always had in years pass and he WAS behaving himself and I let me wife come up to him and he was good_BUT the Capt came out of his trailer ,I could see I SCREWED up! Buckles, being the MAN he is didn't say a word but I sure felt like I fell flat on my face in front of a Man that has always been so good to me! Now I never even try to get too close when visiting traveling shows in my area!

24 July, 2006 17:14
Anonymous said...

To: Roger S., I agree, it's too bad that those who have so much to say aren't willing to sign their names. Why hide?

24 July, 2006 19:22
B.E.Trumble said...

I'm guessing that the opinion sections of the major TN newspapers will start to weigh in in the days to come. I can't imagine TES getting a heads up on new animals for several years. I'm wagering that TES will start funraising for a PC facility to house the Winkster. I would hope that some months from now the family of the deceased may realize that a burial plot in an elephant pasture isn't much compensation for a life lost. Sadly, if nothing changes, if everything gets swept under the rug and it's business as usual -- the other shoe will drop and there will be other equally tragic "accidents" at TES. If any one good thing comes out of this it may be that it raises awareness of the legitimate sanctuary in Arkansas where the management knows that loving elephants doesn't mean behaving stupidly around elephants.

24 July, 2006 20:17
Anonymous said...

In regard to being anonymous, no Roger, "mark my words" is a expression. Nothing more, nothing less (though it's interesting that one person who thought I should sign my name didn't sign theirs)My opinion is just that and doesn't amount to a hill of beans to anyone except myself. If my comments are deleted (and they have been many times) that is Buckles perogative. I have been out of the business for some time and it is irrelevent who I am, but the circus has been a driving passion of mine since early childhood and reading this amazing blog about so many people I have known or worked with is like a jolt that brings back a million memories. So, even if I don't share the opinions of some of the others (who do sign their names)my love for the circus and it's animals is as strong as yours.

24 July, 2006 21:48
Anonymous said...

TES will have some sort of fund raiser thats for sure. Either for a headstone for Joanna or a private barn for Winkie. DONATE seems to be the key word here. I always said Scott was living dangerous playing kick ball with Misty. I was sure she would nail him. Giving elephants Jolly Balls to try to stomp also seems like a real stupid thing to do. TOO much like a human head.

24 July, 2006 23:18
Anonymous said...

Just read on Circus News Forum, Circus Chat that this whole dialog is VILE. Thats the name buckley calls me.

24 July, 2006 23:30
Anonymous said...

i read an article today,saying that the elephant had post-traumatic stress disorder,and thats why she did what she did,said she had poor living accommdations in WI.well things must not be so wonderful in disney land,because she has been there six years.now thats a line of crap that you can shovel.

25 July, 2006 13:41
Anonymous said...

I heard all the crap is taken care by automation. Hands are used to count the cash that pays for that automation so the hands never get dirty.

25 July, 2006 15:33
Anonymous said...

"B.E.Trumble said...
I'm guessing that the opinion sections of the major TN newspapers will start to weigh in in the days to come. I can't imagine TES getting a heads up on new animals for several years". ...good place to mention that Dulary, from the Philly zoo, will be coming to TES, very soon

19 October, 2006 13:37
Anonymous said...

"JENNY" just died at that Tenn place. She left an endowment of $202,586.26. You have just got to read the story. They actually sang to her as she died!!!!!There must be sasperilla in the water in TENN.

19 October, 2006 16:20

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