Buzz
Wild animals are not meant to perform tricks like riding bicycles, leaping through flaming hoops, or following human commands. However, those who have entered a circus tent and witnessed these animals on display may be led to believe otherwise, as the smiling trainers showcase these extraordinary creatures.
For more than a century, circuses have exploited animals, often subjecting them to dominance, confinement, and abuse. These creatures have been torn from their natural environments and forced to perform repeatedly, night after night. The heartbreaking deaths of these circus animals are shocking in both their cruelty and the utter lack of empathy shown to them.
10. Tyke
One of the most unforgettable images of a circus animal's escape is that of Tyke the elephant. For years, Tyke endured mistreatment from her trainers at Circus International in Honolulu, Hawaii. Originally from Mozambique, this African bush elephant had attempted to escape on two previous occasions.
In 1994, during a performance at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in downtown Honolulu, Tyke broke free, charging toward the exit after fatally attacking her trainer and severely injuring her groomer. For over 30 minutes, she rampaged through the streets before local police ended her life with a barrage of at least 86 bullets.
As Tyke fell to the ground, her eyes, now bloodshot with fear, and her terrified expression were visible to all. Honolulu residents, including parents of traumatized children, sued the circus for the emotional distress caused by the harrowing sight of Tyke's tragic end.
9. The Cleveland Circus Fire
In August 1942, a catastrophic fire claimed the lives of an estimated 100 circus animals, engulfing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus tent in Cleveland, Ohio. The large piles of straw surrounding the animals led to the swift spread of the flames, causing lions, tigers, camels, zebras, and other species confined in nine locked cages to perish. Circus workers managed to rescue the horses and elephants, guiding them to safety, but one elephant endured such severe burns that her survival remained uncertain.
A police inspector who arrived at the scene of the fire stood ready with a submachine gun to shoot any animals that managed to escape—he took down a zebra, a giraffe, and 24 other creatures. After the fire, which caused $126,000 in damage, the circus was unable to determine the exact number of animals lost, though they estimated the death toll to be around 100. Two renowned gorillas, Garagantua and Toto, who were stars of the circus, were reported to have survived.
8. Jose And Liso
In 2017, the tragic tale of two former circus lions that were set free in the wild only to fall victim to poachers went viral online. Jose and Liso had spent their lives performing in traveling circuses across Peru and Colombia, enduring brutal mistreatment from their trainers. Once rescued by Animal Defenders International (ADI), they were transported back to South Africa to live safely at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary.
However, poachers broke into the sanctuary and poisoned the two majestic lions. Known for removing the heads and paws of dead lions to sell on the black market, the poachers took their lives for profit. Jan Creamer, president of ADI, stated, “Jose and Liso had endured a life of unimaginable abuse, but their time in Africa had granted them a second chance. We are devastated that these kind-hearted animals had their freedom cruelly stolen from them, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that this cowardly act is punished.”
7. Mary
In 1916, a five-ton elephant became infamous as “Murderous Mary” after she was hanged for her actions. Mary had been performing at Sparks World Famous Circus when she killed a trainer named Red Eldridge. Despite having no previous qualifications or training, Eldridge, a homeless man recently hired by the circus, was allowed to ride on Mary’s back during the elephant parade, an act that ultimately led to their tragic fate.
Witnesses reported that Eldridge provoked the elephant by jabbing her in the ear with a hook while she was trying to eat a watermelon. In a fit of anger, Mary threw him to the ground with her trunk and stomped on his head, killing him instantly.
The following day, Mary was transported to Unicoi County, Tennessee, where over 2,500 spectators gathered to witness her execution. She was hanged by a crane, though the chain broke on the first attempt. The chilling photograph of the event has become an iconic piece of history, its brutal nature raising doubts about its authenticity, yet sadly, this cruelty was real.
6. The Great Wallace Brothers Circus Train Disaster
In 1903, a devastating tragedy occurred in Durand, Michigan, known as The Great Wallace Brothers Circus train disaster. Around 8:30 AM, two trains carrying the circus collided due to a brake failure. The catastrophic event resulted in 23 fatalities, over 100 injuries, and the death of several animals. Among the victims were three camels, a Great Dane, a horse, and an elephant named Maud. These animals were buried near the site of the fatal crash.
The Owosso Argus Press reported, “The scene that followed was indescribable, with the cries and groans of the injured and terrified passengers, the roars of the panicked animals, and the hissing steam, all of which sent the entire city into a frenzy. Hundreds rushed to the scene to assist in the grim task of tending to the dead and wounded.” They also added, “The survivors looked solemn. One was heard saying, ‘Thank God I’m still alive!’”
5. Topsy
In 1903, Topsy the Elephant met a tragic end when she was executed by electrocution at Luna Park on Coney Island. The New York Times reported, “Topsy had indeed killed a man, but her death sentence was only passed after she became uncontrollable at the hands of a trainer who had mistreated her with a pitchfork.” Initially, Topsy was sentenced to death by hanging after killing a trainer, but the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals intervened, calling the hanging method “unnecessarily cruel.”
At the time of Topsy's execution, there was a fierce “War of the Currents” between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Edison’s supporters, eager to prove that alternating current was more dangerous than direct current, used Topsy's death as a demonstration. They had previously electrocuted dogs, calves, and horses using this method, but wanted to escalate the impact. Before her execution, Topsy was fed cyanide-laced carrots and had copper sandals placed on her feet to improve conductivity.
Topsy had been smuggled into the United States and spent most of her life confined as a performer for the Forepaugh Circus. Her sorrowful demise was captured on film, and the footage remains a painful watch.
4. Duke
The tragic deaths of performing animals continue into modern times. In 2013, Duke, a show horse, was only nine years old when he died after being shocked at the Cowtown Rodeo in New Jersey. The show promoters claimed there was no foul play, stating that Duke collapsed during the event due to an “aneurysm of his aorta blood vessel.” They insisted, “Our vet confirmed that this had nothing to do with the rodeo and that it is a rare but natural occurrence for a horse to pass from this cause.” The Cowtown Rodeo has been operational since 1929.
Despite the official explanation, animal rights activists argue that there is evidence suggesting Duke was electrocuted. Members of SHARK—SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness—reported witnessing a handler using an electric prod known as a “hot shot” just before opening the gate to release Duke. The use of such shocking devices on performance animals is prohibited by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
3. Jumbo
The documentary Jumbo: The Life of an Elephant Superstar describes how Jumbo was the world’s first animal superstar. He became a major attraction at the London Zoo, where visitors could ride on his back, before being sold to P.T. Barnum in 1882. When Jumbo arrived in New York, the crowds were massive, with over 10,000 people attending his debut. Sadly, just three years later, Jumbo was struck by a train in St. Thomas, Ontario, and killed. However, questions still linger, and many believe there may be more to Jumbo’s death than the official story.
Experts noted that Jumbo's bones were continually trying to regenerate, a consequence of his harsh living conditions. These included being chained, forced to walk on hard surfaces, and carrying heavy loads of people. Scientists also believed that Jumbo may have been suffering from PTSD, triggered by the traumatic sight of his mother being killed by African hunters. Was his death a cover-up for his declining health? Regardless, Jumbo’s life and tragic end are marked by immense sorrow.
2. Suzy
In 2017, a six-year-old Bengal tiger named Suzy was tragically shot in Stockbridge, a suburb of Atlanta, after escaping from a truck en route from Florida to Tennessee. The truck, owned by Feld Entertainment, was transporting 14 tigers that belonged to trainer Alexander Lacey. These majestic animals were headed to a Tennessee airport before continuing their journey to Germany. Suzy was found chasing a dog in a backyard, where she was cornered and shot by police. Feld Entertainment was unaware of her escape until they arrived at the airport.
A representative from PETA commented, “Suzy isn’t the first big cat to suffer a violent death at the hands of Feld Entertainment. Previous casualties include a tiger shot point-blank while trapped in a cage, and a lion who died from heat exhaustion in a sweltering boxcar.” The spokesperson further remarked, “When Feld Entertainment condemned these tigers to an awful life in a German circus, Suzy’s fate was sealed. She was shot dead on the streets of Atlanta, and we believe she won’t be the last.”
1. Black Diamond
During a 1929 parade through Corsicana, Texas, the Al G. Barnes Circus featured Black Diamond, an elephant who had a notorious past. Led by his trainer, H.D. “Curley” Prickett, the crowds were unaware that Black Diamond—previously known as Tusko and Congo—had already taken the lives of three people. Despite his violent history, Black Diamond was kept in the parade, heavily shackled and chained between two female elephants to prevent him from escaping. His tusks were cut short, and a heavy iron bar restricted his trunk.
As the parade continued, Black Diamond attacked once again, tossing Prickett into the air and dragging another trainer to the ground. He went on to kill Prickett’s supervisor, Eva Speed Donohoo. A witness described the chaos: “People were yelling, and Model T’s were cranking up. Some had arrived by horse and wagon, and the horses were rearing. It was utter havoc. The last thing I saw was Prickett flying through the air, and [the elephant] approached the woman, and we had to move out.”
Black Diamond was eventually executed just outside Kenedy, near San Antonio. A group of executioners fired an estimated 170 rounds (numbers vary widely) before the elephant collapsed to the ground.
