Circus elephant kills 13-year-old boy

A 13-year old boy was killed Saturday by an elephant belonging to a traveling circus in the southern province of Dong Nai.

Pham Xuan Tin, a sixth grader in Bien Hoa Town, and several friends found an elephant chained to a truck inside a local stadium at around noon. They sneaked in and teased the elephant by throwing stones and pulling its tail, a student said.

The upset animal, weighing more than two tons, tried to attack them with its trunk. Tin failed to run away in time and the elephant grasped him in its trunk and flung him to the ground twice.

Tin suffered brain injuries and died on the way to hospital.

Nguyen Van Hung, deputy head of Sao Mai Circus, said his troupe had come from the northern province of Hai Duong and was paid VND2.5 million (US$130) to perform in Bien Hoa on Saturday night.

Hung said the accident happened when the guard had left to have lunch.

The Saturday show of the circus was canceled.