February 15, 1998. Mentor, OH - [BRET BRONSON ELEPHANTS]
Tonya, An elephant who was to perform at the annual Mentor high school circus,
knocked down her trainer during an act, opened a door with her trunk, and fled the
building. She was caught a quarter mile away from the circus. Ledger Enquirer (AP),
February 17, 1998
February 9, 1998. Lincolton, NC - ROYAL PALACE CIRCUS
During a performance an 18-month old, 150-pound leopard named Lexus bit her trainer
on the head and arms after she jerked Lexus’ chain to keep him from lunging at the
audience. As the crowd watched in horror, employees grabbed Lexus's chain and pulled
him off of the trainer. Medical authorities said the trainer would need reconstructive
surgery to repair her wounds. Lexus and another Royal Palace leopard were quarantined
at the Charlotte Metro Zoo for 10 days. Charlotte Observer, February 11, 1998.
January 24, 1998. Jacksonville, FL - RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY
According to charges leveled by the USDA, a 3 1/2 year old baby elephant named
Kenny died after being forced to perform two shows in one day while ill. The case was
settled by agreement and Ringling brothers paid $20,000 to close a USDA investigation
into whether it broke animal welfare laws. Circus officials said that Kenny died of a
gastrointestinal infection. He was one of nine elephants born into captivity at Ringling's
breeding facility in Florida. In the wild, baby elephants are close to their families and
travel in herds. At Ringling, Kenny was put on tour while his mother was kept within
the confines of the circus's breeding compound. Entertainment Wire, February 14,
1998; Jacksonville Times, January 31, 1998.
January 7, 1998. St. Petersburg, FL - RINGLING BROS. BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS
During a publicity photo shoot with tigers, Richard Chipperfield, of the famed British
circus family, was attacked by a four-year-old Bengal tiger named Arnold. His brother,
Graham Chipperfield, and another trainer, used fire extinguishers to control Arnold. The
group of tigers was returned to their cages, and, as paramedics struggled to stabilize
Richard Chipperfield, his brother shot and killed Arnold inside his cage. Chipperfield
was hospitalized in serious condition with significant brain tissue loss. Graham
Chipperfield, who’d been badly mauled by a lion in 1993, announced his decision to
retire from the circus several days later. (See the incident on February 24, 1993.)
Reuters, January 7, 1998; The Electronic Telegraph, January 12, 1998.
1997-98. Aldershot, England - CHIPPERFIELD CIRCUS
Mary Chipperfield, of the famed Chipperfield Circus family was convicted of animal
cruelty and fine $12,000, for beating a chimpanzee with a riding crop. Animal
Defenders, a U.K. group, videotaped Chipperfield abusing the chimpanzee during a
1997-98 investigation. Chipperfield's husband, Roger Cawley, was also fined for
whipping a sick elephant. AP, April 9, 1999.
1997-98. Aldershot, England - CHIPPERFIELD CIRCUS
Investigators from Animal Defenders documented Richard Cawley, the husband of
Mary Chipperfield, whipping a sick elephant. Cawley was fined $1,600. He and
Chipperfield were also ordered to pay $19,580 in court costs. AP, April 9, 1999.