Knoxville Zoo's Trainer-killing Elephant Forgiven

A 33-year-old female animal trainer died on Friday, January 14^th, crushed by a four-ton African elephant in her care at the Knoxville Zoological Gardens. The pachyderm will not be punished for the tragic accident.

Stephanie James, a handler at the Knoxville Zoo, became trapped behind the 8,000-pound female elephant in a stall in the animal enclosure. When the elephant backed up, Stephanie James was crushed against several metal bars. Although zoo medical personnel raced her to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Stephanie James died of internal injuries.

The animal trainer's death has been called a tragic accident by Knoxville Zoo officials, rather than a deliberate animal attack. Animal expert, television personality and former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium director Jack Hanna (of "Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures") agreed.

Edie, the 26-year-old female elephant, was apparently trying to obey the instructions of another trainer. The elephant, standing 8 ½ feet tall at the shoulder, apparently became confused, rather than aggressive.

"The elephants acted as they should in that situation," recounted Jim Vina, Knoxville Zoo executive director. "In other words, when they received a command, they responded."

Accidents with animals do happen at zoos and wildlife centers.

Unfortunately, this is not the first incident in which a human/elephant interaction has resulted in life-threatening injury. Ohio zoo staffer Don Redfox was knocked down and pinned by an elephant in July 2010, leaving him hospitalized with fractured ribs, two punctured lungs.

In March 2007, Animal Planet biologist and wildlife expert Jeff Corwin suffered an elephant attack in a Cambodian wildlife refuge.

The Knoxville Zoo was closed after the incident, and a full investigation is underway. Although the zoo reopened on Saturday, January 15^th, the elephant display was closed, and the pachyderms will be kept from all direct human contact (including their three remaining full-time elephant trainers) until further notice.

Edie is one of three pachyderms living at the Knoxville Zoo in the Stokely African Elephant Preserve. Her companions in the 9,800-square-foot elephant barn and surrounding grasslands habitat are Tonka and Jana, a male and female.

"It's a difficult day, but our staff is very professional and they are carrying on with their duties today," added Tina Rolen, assistant director of marketing at the Knoxville, Tennessee zoo.

Who was Knoxville Zoo animal trainer Stephanie James?

Stephanie James, a native of Indianapolis and Purdue University graduate, was a lifelong animal lover and known for her constant attention to safety. Before working at the Knoxville Zoo, Stephanie James was employed at Sea World, whose Orca trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed in February 2010 by a giant whale during a live performance in the Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

CTRL-click here to read the story of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau (in a new internet window).

Paying tribute to his daughter, Ron James said this: "It was just her goal in life to take care of animals and be around them."