Elephant keeper killed at North Island zoo

A former circus elephant has killed its keeper at the Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary, south of Auckland.

Mila, known as Jumbo during her career with Whirling Bros. Circus, killed keeper Dr Helen Schofield yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon is what Police described as a "tragic accident".

Dr Schofield had claimed to have developed a bond with the retired elephant who arrived at the Zoo in late 2009 as a "jumpy", "frightened" animal who had to be cared for in a purpose-built enclosure at the zoo.

Under the veterinarian's care, the 39-year old animal appeared to have become more pacified - to the point that Dr Schofield slept with her in her pen on nights the animal was troubled.

However, reports suggested the elephant got a fright and wrapped its trunk around Dr Schofield, possibly to protect her, before crushing down on her.

Dr Schofield was owner and director of the Franklin Zoo, where she had set up a charitable trust to take on exotic animals in need of new homes. She had apparently looking to relocate Mila to a sanctuary in the United States once she had recovered enough to be social.

However, a year ago, Dr Schofield told the New Zealand Herald that Mila had been settling in well at the Zoo, stating "she is beautiful and she loves her team.

"Mila has been in a circus for 30 years, shackled in a circus and since she has been here she has only showed signs of improvement - her attitudes, her happiness, activities, Mila is a joy to see. But we are getting her ready for a social situation."

Just hours before her death, Dr Schofield had shared details of the elephant's troubled emotional state during a talk to a group of 50 Zoo guests while standing in front of Mila's enclosure.

Following Dr Schofield's death, Mila's former circus owner, Tony Ratcliffe, came to the gates of the zoo demanding entry. Ratcliffe told Radio New Zealand that those looking after the elephant weren't qualified to do so suggesting that he was the only person who could control the elephant.

Ratcliffe stated that Dr Schofield "lost her life through ignorance of the elephant and its capabilities."

He rejected the suggestion the elephant had struggled to come to terms with living in the zoo after life in the circus.

Ratcliffe was denied entry to the Zoo.

In 2009, a South African zookeeper at Zion Wildlife Gardens was mauled and killed by a white tiger.

Image shows Mila at Franklin Zoo.

3rd February 2012 - OWNERSHIP BATTLE INTENSIFIES AT WHANGEREI’S ZION WILDLIFE GARDENS