Zoo video shows elephant trainer entering stall twice before attack

Don RedFox was injured during an interaction with 7-year-old male elephant Louie. Enlarge

Louie, a 7-year-old African elephant, flings dust with his trunk earlier this month at the Toledo Zoo in Toledo. Enlarge

Anne Baker, executive director of the Toledo Zoo, narrates as the video of Louie the elephant attacking trainer Don RedFox during a news conference at the zoo. Enlarge

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.

Treats 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.

Contact Claudia Boyd-Barrett at:

cbarrett@theblade.com

or 419-724-6272.