17.01.2011, 17:08 4180

8,000lb elephant crushes female trainer to death

An 8,000lb elephant at a Tennessee zoo backed a trainer into a wall and crushed her to death, the agency reports.

Almaty. January 17. Kazakhstan Today - An 8,000lb elephant at a Tennessee zoo backed a trainer into a wall and crushed her to death, the agency reports.

Ms James was fatally injured while performing routine chores involving Edie, a 26-year-old, 8,000lb elephant which is eight-and-a-half feet tall at the shoulder, Daily Mail reported.

Edie is one of three African elephants at the zoo.

Knoxville Zoo said today that it had temporarily closed its elephant exhibit, while the rest of the zoo remained open.

But a zoo spokesman insisted the death of 33-year-old Stephanie James was nothing more than a terrible and tragic accident.

Ms Rolen said: 'At this point in time we don't believe it to be a malicious act or an aggressive act on Edie's part, but the review is ongoing to determine what happened in the barn.

Ms Rolen added that Ms James - one of four full-time elephant trainers at the zoo - was apparently pushed into the wall in a stall by the animal.

She was taken to nearby University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she died of internal injuries.

Ms Rolen said Edie would not be punished or disciplined in any way.

She added: 'Our training programme is based on positive reinforcement.'

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