5/26/2003: Elephant killed without trial

[And]

Not to sound like I'm sympathizing with the executioners (I'm not, really) if I were going to try to take down an elephant, I would want him bound up, too. There's no telling what it would do if you didn't kill it the first shot or after the poison begins taking effect or whatever they used. If it panicked or convulsed or had a secondary nervous reaction, it could go thundering off into someone or into a house or whatnot.

I have only heard third-hand why they kill an elephant that has killed people. It has something to do with the elephant not being intimidated by people or not holding them in respect anymore. Of course, I'd imagine the poor creature was probably abused or overworked to get to the point where it would feel threatened or angry and kill people. Or, heck, maybe it just snapped. People get alzheimer's, maybe elephants can crack mentally, too...