War on Animals: The History Channel

Entertainment!

Several witnesses reported a man beating a baby elephant with a shovel after he pulled his truck into a restaurant parking lot. The elephant and the man were in town with the Great American Circus. One witness said she could hear the elephant shrieking from inside the restaurant. Another said the man hit the elephant 15 or 20 times with a shovel, then left when he noticed people staring at him.

The incident occurred 14 years ago.

(via eponymagain)

ADDENDUM: Apropos of nothing, but from the above linked source:

A 4,500 pound elephant named Luna, apparently disoriented after performing a trick, stepped out of the ring and walked into a crowd of 1,000 people. A few people suffered minor injuries while scrambling out of the animal’s path. The show was abruptly halted. Afterwards, dozens of audience members gathered outside the civic center, some furious at circus officials and others upset and crying.