Crowds flock to world-famous runaway elephant
According to the circus’s general manager, Jim Conway, since Baby’s break for freedom was filmed and posted online on Wednesday, hundreds of people have been turning up outside the circus site in Blackpool in Cork city to catch a glimpse of the internet sensation.
Trainer and owner Joy Gardiner said his younger brother had been washing the elephants and Baby had decided she did not want a bath.
“If the animal doesn’t like something, she can say ‘today I don’t want to wash’. We must accept she does not want a shower. We have to listen and understand.”
Normally the animals are contained by an electric fence of the same type as keeps cattle in fields. However, it had been turned off as a precaution as water was being used to wash the five elephants.
Mr Conway said much had been made of the escape, with speculation that Baby could have caused major damage, but he said that was not an issue.
“The elephant went into the car park. She did not run through buildings or cars. She is not stupid. No one saw how she came back. She just walked calmly back behind the lads holding the hock.”
It would appear that Baby’s escape is not out of character. “She is the smallest one in stature, but also the more playful,” said Mr Gardiner. “Always the one playing with the children. She is fantastic in the ring.
“But outside she is the one who will be following people. If you are having a sandwich she will be over and pulling the sandwich out of your hand.”
Today, animal welfare group Aran are to stage a protest at the circus’s Blackpool site against the use of animals in acts.
“Councils nationwide need to take action without delay and introduce motions to ban animal-act circuses using their land and Government must introduce legislation in the upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill, as the next incident might be more deadly,” said Aran’s John Carmody. “It’s time to reinvigorate a dying industry and start using amazing all-out acrobats and stunning artistic performers.”
That sentiment has been echoed by a large number of people who have posted comments on amateur footage taken of Baby’s escape which was posted on the internet.
However, Courtney’s rejects suggestions the animals are in any way mistreated.
The trainers said that, unlike a zoo, the outside nature of circuses are such that any passersby can see the daily interaction between the humans and animals for most of the time.
“In 2012, any man has his video camera and phones. When we work, if we do something bad, you don’t think everyone knows it?” said Mr Gardiner.
The Irish Examiner was the first to bring you the story — and the footage — of Baby making a break for it.
Amateur footage taken by Sligo native Paul Dunbar and posted to irishexaminer.com had been viewed 113,000 times by yesterday evening.
Images of the 2.5 tonne, 37-year-old elephant making her way past a Costa coffee outlet and towards Dunnes Stores in Blackpool, Cork, have spread across news sites worldwide.
From Australia to America, footage of the big breakout has hit the headlines across the globe.
“Elephant flees bath in Irish circus and stuns coffee lovers” was the headline on Australian website news.com.au, while its compatriot ninemsn.com.au went for the more sensational title of “Circus elephant rampages through Irish town”.
— Stephen Rogers
