Elephants and disease

Zoonotic Diseases are those which can pass readily between humans and animals.

In August of 1996 two circus elephants died from tuberculosis. Both animals were based in the USA and were owned by John Cuneo of The Hawthorne Corporation. They had been ill for some time and had continued to perform despite their visibly deteriorating condition.

Their deaths from a disease which can pass from elephants to humans and vice versa, serves as a clear illustration of the dangers to both species.

The first elephant to die was named Joyce who was 47 years old. She had been very sick for some time. A postmortem revealed that she had only 10% to 20% of her lung capacity remaining at the time of her death, and yet she was performing in front of audiences almost until the day she died.

Hattie, one of Joyce's companions, dies three days later, on August 6, aged just 27 years. Her postmortem revealed that she too had only 10% to 20% of her healthy lung tissue remaining. (Before being put to work as a circus elephant, Hattie had been owned by the Los Angeles Zoo).

Shrouded in Secrecy
In the UK we just don't know how many circus animals die each year, and from what causes, because circuses here are shrouded in secrecy. It's only when a death becomes 'newsworthy', as in the case of Kenya the Elephant, that we actually hear about it and can uncover the details.

Some years ago, we were told about a circus elephant that had died from salmonella contracted while in a farmers field, and which was then allegedly cremated at a pet crematorium. However, we have never been able to substantiate this information.

We do not know if any of the elephants travelling with British circuses are carriers of TB or whether they have ever been tested for the disease. We do know, however, that the strain of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) that killed Joyce and Hattie is the same as that which infects humans.

The Risks from TB
The implications for members of the public, of all ages, but especially children, visiting circuses with elephant acts are considerable. TB can be transmitted from elephants to people and vice versa. The symptoms of TB including coughing (sometimes bringing up blood), tiredness, fever and weightloss. Elephants may also suffer from a chronic nasal discharge. On the positive side, TB is treatable in both animals and humans, given the right care and attention.

It is interesting to note that whilst the badger is being blamed for spreading this dangerous disease among dairy herds in the UK, farmers here are allowing circuses with performing animals onto their land without any objections. As far as we are aware, there is no obligation for routine testing of circus elephants for TB in the UK.

Thanks to The Elephant Alliance for their help on this subject.