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Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 3/2013

01-09-2013 | Images in Forensics

Death due to crushing by an elephant trunk

Authors: Jane Vuletic, Roger W. Byard

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 3/2013

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Excerpt

A 49-year-old female veterinarian was in a zoo enclosure with a female ex-circus African elephant that she had been working with for 2.5 years. The elephant, which was 39 years old, weighed 3,700 kg, and stood approximately 3.4 m tall, had become agitated following a probable shock from an electric fence [1]. According to the findings of the coronial inquest the elephant began advancing toward the veterinarian, causing her to trip and fall over. The elephant dragged her by the leg, picked her up by wrapping its trunk “gently” around her torso and then held her above the ground for some time, walking about 4–5 m. During this time the victim was still moving and talking. Witnesses then described the elephant kneeling, after the decedent had asked to be put down; during this time the elephant had rocked her head from side to side while still holding the victim in her trunk [1]. After release the victim was unable to be resuscitated. …
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Metadata
Title
Death due to crushing by an elephant trunk
Authors
Jane Vuletic
Roger W. Byard
Publication date
01-09-2013
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-013-9415-9

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