Absconding Animals

Background: There’s an elephant at the casino!

Viola, a colossal circus elephant embarked on a startling escapade through the bustling streets of Butte, Montana. The gentle giant was enjoying her customary bath in the parking lot of the Butte Civic Center when a sudden backfire from a nearby truck spooked her. Quick as a flash, Viola took to her heels, weaving a path of mild chaos through traffic and leaving astonished onlookers in her mighty wake.

As news of the elephantine escape spread like wildfire, the townsfolk turned out in droves, eager to catch a glimpse of Viola’s unexpected parade. At one point she was seen eating grass behind a casino. Viola wasn’t out for long; head elephant handler Armando Loyal said that handlers were able to catch the elephant and load her back into a circus truck within 10 minutes of her escape.

I guess we’ll never know whether she was headed to the roulette or craps table.

Facts:

Goldie’s escape became a media sensation. The zoo was flooded with calls and letters from the public offering tips and strategies for capturing the elusive eagle. The Royal Navy and Civil Defence Corps loaned equipment to help in the recapture efforts. BBC reporter John Timpson tried to lure Goldie by playing an Ethiopian bird pipe. And Goldie was mentioned in the House of Commons.

Quote:

“If people could put rainbows in zoos, they’d do it.” - Hobbes

Number: 300

An adult elephant can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a day, consisting mainly of vegetation such as leaves, bamboo, bark, and roots.

Word: Lam

Lam: To go on the lam means to escape from the law or go into hiding.

Headline writers across the country are begging for a lamb escapes the zoo story.

List: On the Loose

• Ken Allen, the Orangutan (San Diego Zoo, USA, 1985): Ken Allen became a legend for his multiple escapes from the San Diego Zoo. His intelligence and Houdini-like skills made him a beloved figure, and earned him the Hairy Houdini moniker.

• Sunny, the Red Panda (Virginia Zoo, USA, 2017): Sunny escaped from the Virginia Zoo and prompted a widespread search throughout the local area. Despite numerous sightings and search efforts, Sunny was never found, leading to much speculation about her fate.

• Flamingo 492 (Sedgwick County Zoo, USA, 2005): This flamingo, known only by its ID number, escaped during a storm when high winds knocked down a tree that damaged its enclosure. The bird was spotted 17(!) years later, living with wild birds in Texas.

• Sylvester the Lion (Karoo National Park, South Africa, 2016): Sylvester became famous after escaping not once, but twice. His first escape lasted three weeks during which he roamed nearly 300 kilometers. After his recapture, he briefly escaped again before being transferred to a different part of the park with enhanced security.

Recommended Reading: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The circus, the Great Depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man who's seen it all.