Allen Campbell | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 30, 1956 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 1994 (aged 37) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Crushed by Tyke (elephant) |
| Occupation(s) | Zookeeper, elephant trainer and handler |
Allen Campbell (December 30, 1956 – August 20, 1994) was an American zookeeper and elephant trainer and handler in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida before moving to work in the Baton Rouge Zoo in the mid-1970s as the elephant keeper and trainer.
Background
[edit]In 1986, Campbell was contracted to run the elephant ride and provide a baby elephant mascot for the Denver Zoo. He worked as an elephant consultant for many zoos including the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. He eventually worked as an elephant trainer for The Hawthorn Corporation.
Controversies and Death
[edit]According to USDA and Canadian law enforcement documents, while performing with Tarzan Zerbini Circus, Campbell was observed publicly abusing an elephant until the elephant was screaming and bending down on three legs to avoid being hit.
Campbell was crushed to death on August 20, 1994, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, after attempting to save fellow co-worker Dallas Beckwith from the performing elephant Tyke, who had run amok. Campbell's autopsy revealed that he had cocaine in his system, which he had obtained from another animal trainer friend of his also in the circus as well as alcohol at the time of his death.[1][2] Officials at the Denver Zoo confirm that Campbell was the subject of complaints in the late 1980s that he abused zoo elephants while running an elephant and camel ride concession in Denver.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Sahagun, Louis. Elephants Pose Giant Dangers", The Los Angeles Times, published October 11, 1994, accessed December 26, 2007.
- ^ a b Parsons, Jim (November 21, 2002). "Elephant Was Exposed To Violence". wtae.com. WTAE-TV. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2007.