News Release

March 9, 2009

Suzanne Roy (919) 697-9389
Catherine Doyle (323)-301-5730

Handler of Elephants Who Injured a Dozen Children at Indiana Circus Saturday has Long History of Legal Violations
Feds knew elephants were accident waiting to happen; did nothing despite two multi-year investigations

Indianapolis, Indiana … The handler of three elephants involved in a Saturday accident that injured a dozen children waiting in line for elephant rides at the Shrine Circus has a long history of violating federal law, the animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) announced today.  

According to eyewitness reports, the accident happened when one elephant "head-butted" another elephant and pushed her into the scaffolding, which collapsed and threw the people standing on it to the ground. IDA has positively identified the handler from video documentation as Will Davenport and his three elephants Tina, Jewel and Queenie/Boo. Davenport tours the country and contracts with circuses for his traveling elephant act.  

"This elephant incident was an accident waiting to happen, and the federal agency that monitors circuses was well aware of the dangers," said Suzanne Roy, program director of In Defense of Animals (IDA), which has been tracking the three elephants for several years. "For two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ignored the warning signs and allowed the handler, Will Davenport, to continue to tour with the elephants, even though the agency itself repeatedly documented him to be inexperienced, untrained, and unable to control elephants."

According to IDA, the USDA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service both have open investigations into the handler. The USDA has repeatedly cited the handler for chronic Animal Welfare Act violations, including "abusive" and unsafe elephant handling practices, inadequate training in elephant care and management, failure to provide adequate medical care to elephants, and negligent treatment of the animals.

In March 2007, on an inspection of the elephant act in Colorado, the USDA found that "the handler was not able to demonstrate adequate control of elephant." A month later, the USDA found that the elephant act lacked a handler "with appropriate training and experience traveling with this group. . . . Safe public exhibition and handling cannot take place without a knowledgeable individual or individuals present."  A year later, the agency again found public safety transgressions, yet still took no action.

Meanwhile, serious concerns about the elephants' health and well-being continue. One has been severely underweight and all three have a history of being abused, beaten and neglected.  

"Will it take the death of a person or an elephant before the USDA finally acts to shut this irresponsible, cruel and dangerous elephant handler down once and for all?" Roy asked.