Society

Breeder killed by elephant in NE China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-14 08:37

CHANGCHUN - An elephant is believed to have trampled its breeder last week, killing the 46-year-old man who had been feeding and training the animal for over 20 years in a park in Northeast China's Jilin province, park officials said Monday.

Angya, a 27-year-old female elephant weighing three tons, and its breeder Zhao Jidong, were returning on a truck to Changchun Wildlife Park following a performance last Friday when the incident occurred, Mu Dejun, head of the park said.

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Zhao was found dead in a cage, where he normally stayed with the elephant while traveling in the truck. "The body was covered with grass and the elephant was caressing it with its trunk," the driver, who declined to give his name, said.

The fatal blow appeared to be on Zhao's chest, he added.

The police are investigating and the result of an autopsy was yet to be released, Mu said.

Angya was gentle and had never caused trouble before, according to officials. Also, the elephant and Zhao were quite attached to each other, staff with the park said.

Further, officials said the elephant was not in the middle of its mating period, a usual cause of emotional disturbance, when the incident occurred.

Some staff say Angya might have been so tired that it lost its temper in the cage after a long journey and many performances.

Angya, 3-meter high, is the only elephant in the park. The elephant often performs football and basketball tricks for audiences.