Elephants Escape!

Post by **jwa1107** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:28 am

Elephant Makes Daring Escape from Zoo

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - An elephant briefly escaped from New Zealand's Auckland zoo on Friday after dropping a log on an electrified fence and crashing through a gate.

Twenty-year-old Burma, one of two elephants at the zoo, was free for about half an hour, forcing some road closures during the morning commuter rush, but posed no threat to people and did no damage to any other property.

The 2.8-ton Asian elephant, which stands about two-and-a-half meters (eight feet) tall, was found in a park behind the zoo and keepers walked her back to her enclosure to join the other elephant.

"When the keepers found her she vocally responded -- it was almost a 'thank goodness you're here'," said Maria Finnegan, the zoo's director of life sciences.

"She was a little shaken and both the girls were clearly happy to be reunited."

Burma had neutralized the electrified fence around the elephant enclosure by dropping a large log onto it, then climbed into a moat and walked along the perimeter fence before pushing through a gate to enter the neighboring park, she said.

"We think it was an opportunistic thing, not a deliberate action, she's realized the fence was not there and then decided to roam...."

Finnegan said the elephants had recently been allowed to roam their enclosure during the warm summer nights, but the zoo would now strengthen the fence and keep the pair indoors overnight under the control of keepers.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 12:24 pm

Just goes to show how creative animals can be. Here an elephant used an object in the exhibit to get out of the exhibit. Very creative. I wonder how many people could figure that out if they were in the elephant's position?

Post by **Wally** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 10:13 am

Elephants should escape and cause destrcution!

Post by **Kielo91** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 11:02 am

Elephants are extremely intelligent creatures. Their trunks are used just as if they had hands. With their IQ and incredible methods of living, I am therefore not surprised that the elephant escaped. Not even with its escaping 'modus operandi'.

Elephants are just that clever. ^_^

Post by **Wally** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 11:15 am

I know.. they got emotions! Cool huh? I saw it once on a documentary.

Post by **jwa1107** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 1:46 pm

has anyone seen the special on Cave Elephants?
can't remember if it is on Discovery or Animal Planet...

Nornironer · Post by **Nornironer** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 2:45 pm

I doubt the elephant realised at the time that the log would neutralise the fence i'm sure it was the elephant just experimenting and playing

They're smart but still can't understand electricity

Post by **Missy** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:22 pm

Jwa, I can't remember what chanel either, but it is going to beon again soon. I have seen the advertisments recently. I will watch closer and report back to everyone.

Post by **Kielo91** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:36 pm

Er, Cave Elephants.. Cave Elephants... I faintly recall hearing about that. I'm pretty sure it was on Animal Planet. For me, AP is on channel 49. Wasn't that 'documentary' a part of Omaha's Wild Kingdom or something like that?

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:44 pm

I haven't seen the show but I'm pretty sure Kielo is right. I think it was part of Omaha's Wild Kingdom series. I saw previews for it and I watch way more Animal Planet then I do Discovery so it must be on Animal Planet.

Post by **Missy** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:55 pm

Yes, it was a Omaha's wild kingdom documentary. But, I saw the add watching the dog show on USA last night

Post by **Kielo91** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:37 pm

I didn't get to watch it. I would of liked to, but I was at my grandparents' house celebrating my grandfather's 81st birthday.

I always thought Omaha's Wild Kingdom was based on real documentaries, but I wasn't so sure about the 'cave elephants'. I haven't been watching AP a whole lot lately, so I don't know for sure. I mean, elephants are intelligent and all, but going underground? Elephants? Definitely not common. You would think that elephants would be too large to travel underground.

phantom · Post by **phantom** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:54 pm

If the entrnace to underground is big enough for an animal, hey why not check it out.

I saw that ad when I was watching the Westminister Dog Show last night. I have an evening exam tonight but I should be back in time for the best in show presentation. I hope the Norwich Terrier wins it all.. ANything but the poodle. For some reason I just don't take to that breed of dog.

Post by **Kielo91** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:08 pm

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of poodles either, but some of them are quite cute in my opinion.

Well, I could see elephants getting into an underground area or so, if the entrance is large enough, but its the part where they travel underground is what gets me. Most caverns are very large from the entrance on to at least past halfway into them, then sometimes they gradually decrease in both length and height. Some just keep going and going...

Capt.Rutlinger · Post by **Capt.Rutlinger** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 10:49 am

this incedent proved again that elephants are intellegent creatures
and as long as the elephant didn't cause to much damage it's not so bad