Either the Toledo Zoo read's circus NO spin, or they have finally come to the same conclusion.

Zoo video shows elephant trainer entering stall twice before attack.


Toledo Zoo officials on Wednesday played video clips of an elephant attack that shows a trainer entering the animal's stall two times, the first time with treats and the second time with a hook to control the elephant.

The video clips, which were shot from different camera angles, also show Louie the elephant backing trainer Don RedFox into a corner where he was attacked.

Anne Baker, the zoo's executive director, told members of the media on Wednesday that it appears both the elephant and trainer initially were startled during the July 1 incident.

Mr. RedFox hesitated for a moment as he carried what is believed to be a bag of carrots into the stall. The elephant's ears can be seen flaring.

reats are normally distributed to animals in the afternoon, which is when the attack occurred, but the animals are typically not in their stalls at those times, Ms. Baker said.

In this case, Louie was in his stall. Ms. Baker said officials are investigating why this happened.

On the video, Louie can be seen moving toward Mr. RedFox, who then left the stall. He returned a short time later with an elephant guide, also known as a bull hook or ankus, which he uses to touch Louie with on the behind.

Ms. Baker said Mr. RedFox was trying to get him to line up for training. At this point, Louie turned around and lunged at Mr. RedFox, moving the trainer into a corner of the stall.

The elephant backed away and then attacked again.

The video at this point is hard to view, but the elephant can be seen crouching in a corner with his head and tusks down.

Mr. RedFox then stumbled out of the stall and can be seen falling to the floor on his way out.

Zoo officials said Wednesday that Mr. RedFox, who received two punctured lungs and multiple rib fractures, has been removed from the intensive care unit at the University of Toledo of Medical Center. He remains in serious condition.

Ms. Baker said they have yet to speak with Mr. RedFox.

After the incident, zoo leaders said Mr. RedFox broke protocol by entering the animal's enclosure alone. Ms. Baker said Louie appears to have been exhibiting typical male sparring behavior in the wild, similar to "play fighting."

Wednesday was the first time zoo leaders discussed that Mr. RedFox had been in the enclosure twice or that the elephant would normally have been outside the stall.

The video was released Wednesday after Mr. RedFox's family agreed to drop a temporary restraining order in Lucas County Common Pleas Court prohibiting its release, citing privacy concerns.
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"I find it just incredulous that people seem to have such a hard time accepting that an animal, which is twice, three times, four times, ten times bigger then a human being has the potential to hurt them, or even kill them. They don't even have to want to hurt you or kill you. The dynamic's of something large going head to head with something small is pretty simple to comprehend. What a pc term "play fighting." They are not humans, they have no spoken language, and they only have one way of communicating with a member of their species, of which you become, when you start dealing with them. A horse doesn't intend to break your leg when he kicks at you. After all, Night Wind's leg didn't break when he was kicked by the same horse. NEWS FLASH people!!!!! Night Wind's leg is genetically engineered to withstand the kick of another horse much better then a human leg is. You don't want to get hurt or even killed? Stay as far away from an animal bigger then your self, as you can possibly get. Become a part of their life, expect to get "downed and browned" now and again."
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Courtesy of Josip Marcan