Reward offered in drive-by shooting of circus elephant

Emily Le Coz, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger | USATODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Circus elephant wounded in drive-by shooting Police in Tupelo, Mississippi are investigating after an elephant with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was wounded in a drive-by shooting early Tuesday. The 39-year-old elephant is expected to recover. (April 10)

Five sources%2C including a former congressman%2C contributed to the %2421%2C250 reward

Carol%2C the elephant%2C is expected to make a full recovery

Because Asian elephants are an endangered species%2C the crime will be pursued as federal offense

TUPELO, Miss. -- A reward from multiple sources is being offered in the drive-by shooting of an Asian elephant with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

A total of $21,250 is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the responsible person or persons responsible for shooting and injuring the female elephant named Carol on Tuesday while she was in an enclosure outside the BancorpSouth Arena in downtown Tupelo.

The circus has offered $10,000 toward the reward. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the animal-rights group PETA each pitched in $5,000. Crime Stoppers of North Mississippi contributed $1,000 and $250 is coming from former 1st District U.S. Rep. Travis Childers.

Tupelo Police Capt. Rusty Haynes said the reward amount "will strain the depths of loyalty."

The elephant, one of several performing with the traveling circus, was hit by a bullet in the shoulder, said the arena's marketing director, Kevan Kirkpatrick.

"We have had the circus once a year since 1995," Kirkpatrick said. "Absolutely this is the first elephant shooting we had."

A security guard on the scene was able to provide some information to the Tupelo Police Department, which is investigating, but "leads are pretty slim," said Haynes. "We're dealing with a victim that can't talk."

The 39-year-old elephant is an endangered species, so the crime will be pursued as a federal offense under the Endangered Species Act, Haynes said.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus flew in its own veterinarian to treat the elephant. Company spokeswoman Melinda Hartline said the animal would be taken to Springfield, Mo., where she'll remain under veterinarian care for several weeks. She is expected to make a full recovery, Hartline said. And the circus will go on as scheduled, with shows set to start Thursday and run through the weekend.

City officials have placed an "elephant-sized card" in the lobby of the Convention & Visitors Bureau for Carol that the public is invited to sign. It also will collect donated items for the local animal shelter in Carol's honor.

Tupelo is home to another strange animal occurrence. In 2007, Oliver the cappuchin monkey twice escaped from Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, leading officials on chases that made international headlines.