Accident: 201160017 - Injured When Elephant Sits On Him

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on October 16, 1996, Employee #1, a trainee at the Los Angeles Municipal Zoo, was helping a qualified animal handler with an elephant training demonstration. The animal handler, who also worked for the zoo, was directing and conducting the demonstration for visitors, using an elephant named Callie. He asked Employee #1 to remove a wheelbarrow full of waste from the elephant pen, and then to return with a set of keys, which were to be used during the finale of the demonstration. Employee #1 completed this task and was handing the keys to the animal trainer when the elephant suddenly moved and sat down, striking Employee #1. He sustained a broken right collar bone and was taken to Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center for treatment. Callie was described by zoo officials as the least tractable of the zoo's six female elephants. The causal factor in this accident was the employer's failure to follow its own protocol for handling elephants by allowing a trainee to help control an animal that was known to be difficult to handle.

elephant, struck by, collarbone, fracture, inexperience, work rules, animal handler

Accident: 14338842 - Crushed And Killed By Elephant

On July 10, 1993, Employee #1 and a coworker were following the normal daily routine in the elephant barn. After watering two elephants, they bathed and worked each elephant individually, all while the elephants were restrained by chains. Then Employee #1 unchained Tilly, the elephant, while the coworker stood close by as backup. When Tilly was unchained, Employee #1 told the elephant to "steady," which means to remain in one area and not move. When both employees went to unchain the other elephant, Tilly moved and took steps toward the center of the barn and in the direction of the two employees. Employee #1 approached Tilly, commanding "move over." Because Tilly did not move right away, Employee #1 again commanded "move over" and cued Tilly physically with an ankus. Although Employee #1 had not yet touched Tilly, the elephant hit her with her head and trunk, knocking the employee several feet away. Tilly then ran up to the employee and started kicking her in the head and chest area. The coworker used her ankus and verbal commands to bring the elephant back under control and away from Employee #1. Employee #1 was treated by paramedics at the scene and died at the hospital an hour later of collapsed lungs.

animal handler, elephant, communication, struck by, head, chest, lung

Accident: 14353585 - Killed When Struck And Crushed By Elephant

At approximately 11:50 a.m. on May 5, 1993, Employee #1, a road show elephant trainer, entered an elephant pen that was occupied by four female Asian elephants. Employee #1 had been touring the facility with the present manager and the company veterinarian to look it over, as he was considering the possibility of becoming the facility manager. At approximately 11:45 a.m., the manager went in the back barn to take out the last elephant. The veterinarian was labeling the glass bottles he uses to draw blood from the elephants, when Employee #1 went in the main elephant pen occupied by the four elephants. Within 5 minutes, an elephant hit Employee #1 with her head, knocked him down, and stepped on him, crushing him. It appeared that the elephant did not recognize him.

struck by, elephant, crushed, animal handler

Accident: 774208 - Killed When Squeezed And Thrown By Elephant

Employee #1 was removing chains from an elephant's foot when the elephant picked up the employee with its trunk, squeezed and jerked him, and then threw him to the ground. The employee sustained a concussion and died.

concussion, elephant, animal handler, crushed, struck against

Accident: 170161509 - Animal Trainer Killed When Attacked By Elephant

Employee #1, an elephant trainer, was training one elephant when she was attacked by another elephant. She suffered massive head injuries and possibly a broken neck, and was killed instantly. The elephant that attacked had never shown aggression toward humans, but had frequently bullied the other elephant. Employee #1 had been aware of this fact. Other keepers were in the area, but none of them were facing in the direction of the accident when it happened.

elephant, animal handler, head, neck, fracture, crushed