An animal trainer tragically lost his life after being trampled by his own elephant in front of a shocked circus audience, followed by the elephant escaping and causing chaos in the streets.

The incident occurred during a performance at the Neal Blaisdell Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the 20-year-old African bush elephant named Tyke, forced to participate in Circus International, turned violent. Observers initially mistook her actions for part of the show until realizing she was attacking her handler, Allen Campbell, leading to a chaotic scene as spectators fled.

Amidst the commotion, Tyke broke free from the venue and ran through downtown Honolulu, endangering pedestrians and causing havoc with vehicles. Despite attempts by authorities to control her, the situation escalated, resulting in police firing multiple shots at the elephant as she rampaged through the city blocks until eventually succumbing to injuries.

Tyke’s tragic death fueled animal rights activism, prompting Hawaii to ban exotic wild animals from traveling circuses. This incident, along with previous escape attempts in 1993, highlighted the distress and dangers associated with forcing animals to perform in such settings.

In a positive turn, the Moscow International Circus opted to go animal-free in one of its shows following the backlash from Tyke’s case, emphasizing safety and compassion. Tyke, remembered for her turbulent life, now rests in a memorial plaque at Valley of the Temples Cemetery in Honolulu.

The unfortunate incident in Hawaii echoes a recent fatality involving a CEO in South Africa, who was fatally trampled by an elephant on his private game reserve. FC Conradie, co-owner of the reserve, tragically passed away from injuries sustained during the encounter.

As part of our commitment to user privacy, we use cookies and similar technologies to enhance site functionality and personalize content. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies as outlined in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.