One elephant is dead and two others injured after a truck hauling the animals crashed on a highway in Spain. Shocking photos and video footage show the elephants—who are reportedly used in circuses—loose on the highway:
Se está procediendo a la asistencia y evacuación de los elefantes heridos en el accidente que ha tenido lugar en Albacete. De los cinco paquidermos hay uno muerto y dos heridos. En breve de restablecerá la circulación en la A-30 en el pk 22/23. pic.twitter.com/fhGypNDYGm
— Gregorio Serrano (@GSerranoLopez) April 2, 2018
Se restablece la circulación en la A-30, pk 22. Felicidades a la Jefa de Tráfico de Albacete, Agrupación de Tráfico de la @guardiacivil, Bomberos y empresas colaboradoras por la eficacia y rapidez en la apertura de la autovía. pic.twitter.com/KxvgFnVM7O
— Gregorio Serrano (@GSerranoLopez) April 2, 2018
Según las investigaciones preliminares, el accidente del camión cargado de elefantes se ha producido al adelantar éste a un vehículo de transporte especial y al incorporarse en el carril derecho se ha producido el vuelco. Atestados de la ATGC de Albacete investiga el accidente. pic.twitter.com/Np0jbX0qQl
— Gregorio Serrano (@GSerranoLopez) April 2, 2018
— Bomberos AB(Oficial) (@sciab_es) April 2, 2018
A-30 cortada por caída de camión con elefantes sueltos en la calzada. Cortada autovía dirección Murcia a la altura de pozo Cañada. pic.twitter.com/z0tPg6KDZo
— PolicíaLocalAlbacete (@PoliciaAlbacete) April 2, 2018
Precaucion conductores: Elefantes en la calzada en la A30. pic.twitter.com/AevALBSkES
— Bomberos AB(Oficial) (@sciab_es) April 2, 2018
And here, one of the injured elephants appears bloodied and battered:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156189486621069&set=a.105483421068.90470.727091068&type=3&theater
Stunned drivers and pedestrians gaped as elephants roamed the street. The dead elephant was reportedly removed from a ditch, where her body had landed following the crash. According to reports, the elephants belong to Circo Gottani, a Spanish circus company. Folks have already begun calling out the circus and other cruel captive-elephant industries:
Thinking about the lives of these elephants in Spain who survived (one died) a road accident fuels my rage at what we do to them and all the other animals. Just look at that poor elephant. No life in the circus. Give them their freedom in a sanctuary now. #elephants pic.twitter.com/rYJQXvNAib
— Kim Stallwood (@grumpyvegan) April 2, 2018
Awful story – trailer carting circus elephants across Spain overturns, killing one and leaving rest injured & staggering across the motorway. I really don't get how circuses can be legal, or why any normal person would want to go to one. https://t.co/kF98fLF24I
— Tamara Hinson (@TamaraHinson) April 2, 2018
This crash is just the latest reason to demand the end of elephant use and abuse in circuses: Circus trains have crashed; animals have been trapped inside overturned trailers; elephants have been used as living car jacks, chained by all four legs, and beaten with bullhooks, causing their feet to rot and their brains to fry; tigers have been left without water while their handlers slept nearby; and one tiger last summer was shot after she escaped at a truck stop.
https://twitter.com/peta/status/906242487177674752
Animals in circuses are caged and chained for the majority of their lives and forced to perform tricks under threat of punishment, which is why PETA asserts that the only way to ensure their safety is to end their use in circuses altogether. We’re also calling for an examination by police of the driver’s record and a public disclosure of veterinary care for the surviving elephants.
