Franklin Zoo (Closed) Elephant Kills Woman at Franklin Zoo

Status
Not open for further replies.
they have removed the article on him, and no more updates
so who knows
i felt responsible as i helped convince the owners to let him go there
another sad case of an animal that should have been left where it was with upgraded facilities
 
felix said:
another sad case of an animal that should have been left where it was with upgraded facilities
Click to expand...

Happens all too frequently. Most times the intentions are good but woefully misguided.

My information is that he survived at the "sanctuary" for a little over 12 months.
 
Mila likely had 'motive to kill'

There hasn't been much in the media about this story lately, although a new (and not particularly well written or researched) article has appeared today:

Mila The Elephant 'Had Motive' - Ex-keeper | Stuff.co.nz

Mila the elephant most likely intended to kill her keeper at Franklin Zoo, says her former owner.

Robin Ratcliffe, brother of Mila's former handler Tony Ratcliffe, said they warned officials that someone would get hurt if her transition to the zoo was not handled correctly.

"This tragedy was in the making," he said. "We didn't have any doubt. It was only a matter of time."

That time came on the afternoon of April 25, when keeper Helen Schofield, a vet who lived on site at Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary, was crushed to death by the elephant.

It is understood Ms Schofield, 42, was killed when Mila picked her up with her trunk before bringing her down, crushing her.

Robin Ratcliffe, founder of Hamilton engineering firm Modern Transport Engineers, said it was likely Mila knew what she was doing.

"Mila possibly had a motive to kill her," he said.

"We won't conclusively be able to say that until we actually see evidence of how it happened, but we've got a strong belief that the elephant more or less set her up.

He said the killing would have been linked to prolonged separation from her former handler, Tony Ratcliffe.

Her transition to Franklin Zoo should have taken at least two years with Tony's assistance, but instead, she was taken from the Ratcliffes and they had not been allowed to see her since.

"So now we see a distressed animal ... because it's lost the one thing that it knows it's got security with – my brother. Everyone else becomes a threat.

"She [dealt] out some punishment. She wouldn't have done that if she was happy."

He was surprised the SPCA and police had not contacted the family since the incident. The brothers know Mila better than anyone else – they cared for her for 31 years.

They bought the elephant – then named Mele Kahea – from Honolulu Zoo in 1978, when she was 5 years old. She was renamed Jumbo, trained and cared for by Tony and was sold to Whirling Bros circus on the condition that he would stay on as her handler.

Robin Ratcliffe dismissed claims by animal rights organisations that Jumbo suffered during her time in the circus. He said the sway she developed was a "lulling motion" common with elephants, and was not linked to anxiety or stress.

He said allegations that she was having panic attacks in the night were also unfounded.

"There is absolutely no way that Jumbo has been physiologically damaged by the association and bond that she has built up with Tony."

He said the elephant was loved by the family. When she nearly died following a drug overdose at Auckland Zoo, Tony slept beside her to comfort her.

"Behind the scenes of this animal, this elephant, there's been a loving, caring family that have been with her since 1978 when we brought her in."
Click to expand...

When did she have a drug overdose at Auckland Zoo???
 
A message from Tony Ratcliffe has clarified the newspaper's Auckland Zoo misquote.

Back in 1979 the then vet at Auckland prescribed a dosage rate of wormer to Tony for Jumbo.

The rate was way too high and Jumbo ended up in a coma. The circus chartered a plane to fly a vet from Wellington to save her life. It was touch and go for a while and, of course, Tony did not leave her side.

The Ratcliffes did not mention this as a criticism of Auckland Zoo with whom they have enjoyed a good relationship, both before and after this incident. It was a statement of a fact that was misquoted by the media.
 
Maybe some of those familiar with elephants could comment on the bit
"He said the sway she developed was a "lulling motion" common with elephants"
I've never seen wild elephants sway like that, however I have seen various captive animals sway when confined in small spaces, such as horses, bears and elephants chained by the leg.

Easy for the Ratcliffes to comment using hindsight, if they did warn "officials" they kept that quiet at the time.
 
felix said:
apparently the guards at buckingham palace do it to help their circulation;)
Click to expand...

They would be on a "charge" if they did !


from a report.............
If they become dizzy, true grit will have to prevail as they are not allowed to sway or kneel. They must faint forward and keep hold of the rifle.
 
I heard the guards are kept in place by nailing the top of the busby to the ceiling of the guard hut, that way if they do pass out the chin strap will still hold them upright.
Those horses the HC use for guard duty are fiberglass models though,
 
Last edited:
he he he

I think they have a little hook already sewn in for the purpose.

I can confirm that the horses are indeed made of fibreglass,
my Uncle has a contract making dollops of fibreglass horse poo which he delivers to the Royal Mews.
They place it near the horses every morning before the tourists arrive.

What an expense........
 
apparently a small middle east country is funded by the company that removes the fibreglass poo, washes it and then sells it back to them
 
kiwipo said:
Maybe some of those familiar with elephants could comment on the bit
"He said the sway she developed was a "lulling motion" common with elephants"
I've never seen wild elephants sway like that, however I have seen various captive animals sway when confined in small spaces, such as horses, bears and elephants chained by the leg.

Easy for the Ratcliffes to comment using hindsight, if they did warn "officials" they kept that quiet at the time.
Click to expand...

I am happy to be corrected by someone with more elephant knowledge than myself but i believe it is developed primarily by circus elephants to shift their weight in transport. Generally not a sign of mental issues. I also used to do this when im standing behond a coffee machine all day and often find myself doing it even when i am only standing still for short times. i dont think theres anything wrong with me.

There is a classic photo aussie animal libbers use of i believe Arna or maybe saigon swaying very aggressively. This is dofferent and i believe the over the top swaying is a sign of stress which in this case is very obviously being caused by the photographer. they are all blame but generally cauae the most stress to the animals.

Tarongas postponement of the elephant import is a perfect example. the only postponed it because the elephants were becoming too stressed by the protestors noises which includer banging on the transport crates.
 
Jarkari said:
I am happy to be corrected by someone with more elephant knowledge than myself but i believe it is developed primarily by circus elephants to shift their weight in transport. Generally not a sign of mental issues. I also used to do this when im standing behond a coffee machine all day and often find myself doing it even when i am only standing still for short times. i dont think theres anything wrong with me.
Click to expand...

First, swaying/rocking has never been observed in wild elephants, either in Asia nor in Africa. Second, zoo elephants that have never been transported develop this stereotypy too. It`s not from being transported and shifting weight. An elephant will start rocking/swaying if it can`t move as it wants due to being chained. The frustrated elephant will pull on the chains and move its body/legs in a way that is still possible despite being chained on 2 legs. Elephants that have their front legs shackled together will rock, those that are chained by one front leg and one hind leg will sway.
You can see this will in zoo herds that have both old and rather young elephants - the older elephants that have been chained overnight for a long time of their life will start swaying when bored or stressed, while younger elephants that have been born after chaining had been stopped will never sway/rock.

Swaying/rocking is an abnormal behavoir, developed to cope with long periods of frustration and boredom. It is propaganda
that elephants do this just to shift weight.
 
Jarkari;554949. I also used to do this when im standing behond a coffee machine all day and often find myself doing it even when i am only standing still for short times. i dont think theres anything wrong with me. [/QUOTE said:
When swaying behind the coffee machine does your entire body sway, or like an elephant is it just your nose and the front portion of your body.
You might try standing in front of the coffee machine instead, that way you will get a coffee and won't have to be there all day. :D
Click to expand...
 
felix said:
apparently a small middle east country is funded by the company that removes the fibreglass poo, washes it and then sells it back to them
Click to expand...

that's probably a better option than letting local residents take it home to put in their gardens. you can't grow much using fiberglass poo as fertiliser.
 
Yassa said:
First, swaying/rocking has never been observed in wild elephants, either in Asia nor in Africa. Second, zoo elephants that have never been transported develop this stereotypy too. It`s not from being transported and shifting weight. An elephant will start rocking/swaying if it can`t move as it wants due to being chained. The frustrated elephant will pull on the chains and move its body/legs in a way that is still possible despite being chained on 2 legs. Elephants that have their front legs shackled together will rock, those that are chained by one front leg and one hind leg will sway.
You can see this will in zoo herds that have both old and rather young elephants - the older elephants that have been chained overnight for a long time of their life will start swaying when bored or stressed, while younger elephants that have been born after chaining had been stopped will never sway/rock.

Swaying/rocking is an abnormal behavoir, developed to cope with long periods of frustration and boredom. It is propaganda
that elephants do this just to shift weight.
Click to expand...

Firstly, why would it be seen in wild elepgants? They are never put in a situation where they cant shift weight just by moving around. so that was just a useless point.
zoo elephants also wont walk long distances which is why this behaviour develops.

Secondly, i did say it is also a sign of stress. boredom is a stress but this does not mean the animal has mental problens. many elephant keepers will tell you long term circus elephants are often better adjusted mentally than long term zoo elephants. this of course is changing with better enrichment and more zoos walking their elephants. i am reasonably confident that once city zoos in the states become protected contact we will see more swaying long term.

I have worked with thirteen elephants that spent considerable time xhained by their hind leg. the chains were six metres long and attached to one foot only so they could move in a large circle. They could move small distances only but not one of those elephants swayed or rocked. This includes a bull that was chained 24 hours a day while in musth.
 
kiwipo said:
When swaying behind the coffee machine does your entire body sway, or like an elephant is it just your nose and the front portion of your body.
You might try standing in front of the coffee machine instead, that way you will get a coffee and won't have to be there all day. :D
Click to expand...

Main difference is i have only got two legs but interestingly it is now ingrained in me so even when im doing walking tours i still shift regularly when we stop yo talk about animals. i also do it when im nervous and even when im sitting.

also dont worry i spend plenty of time on both sides of the machine. just as passionate about that stuff as i am zoos :)
 
Jarkari said:
many elephant keepers will tell you long term circus elephants are often better adjusted mentally than long term zoo elephants. this of course is changing with better enrichment and more zoos walking their elephants. i am reasonably confident that once city zoos in the states become protected contact we will see more swaying long term.
Click to expand...

Maybe the circus people just don`t want to see what is right in front of them because they are in denial? I have no idea where the "circus elephants are better adjusted mentally then zoo elephants" comes from. I have seen dozands of circus elephants and all were in a terrible situation, either standing in small paddocks in concrete parking lots or being chained even during the day. And most of them showed very severe swaying/rocking.
On the other hand, I know a lot of zoo elephants that have grown up in protected contact and that have been transported, and they NEVER sway. How someone who has been around elephants as much as you claim to be can dispute the connection between chaining and swaying is beyond me. This topic is well researched.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top