This report was a no-brainer!!!!

The elephant that killed its handler at the Knoxville Zoo last month apparently committed an “intentional” attack without provocation, according to a state report released today.

Zoo officials say that’s a conclusion without any proof.

“Intentional is a word that I don’t know how you can say,” said Jim Vlna, the zoo’s director. “They don’t know the mind of an elephant.”

Stephanie Elaine James, 33, died Jan. 14 from internal injuries suffered when Edie, a 26-year-old African elephant, pushed her into the bars of a stall in the Stokely African Elephant Preserve barn at the Knoxville Zoo during evening feeding. Her death made her the first person killed by an elephant at a zoo in Tennessee history, authorities said.

An investigation by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency found zoo officials followed all recommended safety procedures and did nothing wrong.

“Investigation has identified no apparent stimulus that precipitated the action by the elephant,” Wildlife Officer Joe Durnin wrote.

Handlers have dealt with Edie in protected contact, meaning keepers tend to her only through bars or other barriers, since James’ death. Vlna, the zoo director, said he expects that policy will continue while the zoo awaits the findings of an independent panel appointed to review the case.

Courtesy of Mark Rosenthal

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“Intentional is a word that I don’t know how you can say,” said Jim Vlna, the zoo’s director. “They don’t know the mind of an elephant.”

Mr. Vlna, all due respect, why don't you try saying it like this "done with intention or on purpose." But because you would like us to believe that the elephant "did what she was trained to do, by stopping when she was told to," you likely are confused because they didn't use the phrase "antonym of intentional" in their report. If they had, in that case you would be right. It was indeed an "accident."