A Maine veterinarian is believed to have been killed by one of his own elephants.

James Laurita, 56, was found dead on Tuesday morning at the Hope Elephants facility he founded in Hope, Maine. Hope Elephants cares for retired circus elephants, and has two elderly female elephants — Rosie and Opal — on its grounds.

Police initially believed that Laurita died after falling and hitting his head on the barn floor, but an autopsy later determined he died from asphyxiation caused by internal injuries and multiple fractures. It is believed these were caused by an elephant stepping on his chest after he fell on the ground. The death has been ruled accidental.


Hope Elephants was founded in 2011 by Laurita and his brother, Tom. Their plan to rehabilitate elephants drew criticism from some animal rights groups, who believed Maine’s climate was too cold for the animals, and that the animals wouldn’t be given enough space to roam or that they would be lonely without the company of a herd.

Laurita received his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Cornell University, according to Hope Elephants’ website, where he was described as an “elephant caregiver, enthusiastic educator of students and adults regarding the importance of wildlife conservation, and energetic collaborator with like-minded organizations worldwide.’’