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Elephant hit me as I tried to free it from 'prison'
An animal lover's bid to
help an elephant escape its
truck and say goodbye to
the circus almost ended in
disaster.
Jenny Wilkins, 45, was in
Dieppe celebrating her best
friend's birthday over the
Easter weekend, staying in a
hotel opposite a circus.
On Good Friday she noticed
a lot of the animals were tied up
in trucks and cages and were
not able to move very far.
Mrs Wilkins, of Reading
Road, Brighton, said: "The
weather was so bad and the animals
were locked up and I could
see the trunk of the elephant
coming out through a small
window.
"It was in the back of a lorry
and it was tied up with a metal
chain which was no longer
than 2ft so it could not move, sit
or lie down to sleep. It just
stood there and swayed."
Scared
Mrs Wilkins arrived at the
Europa Hotel in Dieppe on Friday
morning with her 15-yearold
son Jack.
She and her friend, who also
brought her 15-year-old son,
had decided to go away for a
long weekend.
On Saturday they spent the
day at the market and on their
return to the hotel Mrs Wilkins
could see the elephant had not
been let out and the door of the
truck had not been opened.
She went to the hotel reception
to complain and was told
by the receptionist that the elephant
had been incarcerated
for at least four days.
She said: "By Sunday I was
absolutely determined to complain
or do something about it.
"I went over to the circus
very early in the morning,
about 5.30am, and I unbolted
the catch on the door and the
elephant was right there in the
doorway.
"He grabbed me round the
waist with his trunk and pulled
me against the truck. It was
quite tight and I was scared.
"I stroked its trunk and
asked it to let me go and it hit
me with its trunk in my back,
quite hard, and I thought the
poor elephant needs to be out."
The circus owners turned up
and asked Mrs Wilkins what
she was doing and she told
them they needed to let the elephant
out.
She said: "My friend, her son
and my son were at the hotel
window asking me to get away.
"In the end the circus staff
sedated the elephant and let it
out but I just knew as soon as I
left they would put it back
inside the truck.
"The tigers were in an even
worse state. They were so big
and the cage was the size of
their bodies.
"I made a complaint to the
hotel manager and the circus
but they just played dumb. I felt
there just needed to be a voice
to say these animals should be
let out at least once a day."
ruth.lumley@theargus.co.uk
What do you think of Jenny Wilkins' attempt to set an elephant free in France? Give us your opinion below.
10:27am Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: bert, west pier on 10:46am Thu 27 Mar 08
sounds a bit foolhardy to me,silly do gooder no wonder her friends were shouting at her to get away,the elephant could have killed her.did she think it worth possibly leaving her son without a mother for her silly self heroics.of course the circus played dumb they have probably dealt with bampots like her animal rights etc over the years.and what good in complaining to the hotel what could they do.she should have phoned the french equivelent of the rspca.i can understand her concerns but to put just not her own life in danger but also poeple around her if that animal had rampaged.well quite an extraordinary story.
sounds a bit foolhardy to me,silly do gooder no wonder her friends were shouting at her to get away,the elephant could have killed her.did she think it worth possibly leaving her son without a mother for her silly self heroics.of course the circus played dumb they have probably dealt with bampots like her animal rights etc over the years.and what good in complaining to the hotel what could they do.she should have phoned the french equivelent of the rspca.i can understand her concerns but to put just not her own life in danger but also poeple around her if that animal had rampaged.well quite an extraordinary story.
Posted by: Pete, Brighton on 10:50am Thu 27 Mar 08
As much as i admire Jenny Wilkins concerns for the well being of these animals she must be totally bonkers to try and free this elephant they are huge animals and even the Mahoots who work and train these elephants always work with caution,it would be a lot better for this stupid woman to campaine to have circuses banned and all animals put where they belong back in there natual habitat
As much as i admire Jenny Wilkins concerns for the well being of these animals she must be totally bonkers to try and free this elephant they are huge animals and even the Mahoots who work and train these elephants always work with caution,it would be a lot better for this stupid woman to campaine to have circuses banned and all animals put where they belong back in there natual habitat
Posted by: Stoggler, London on 11:01am Thu 27 Mar 08
So what did she expect to do with the elephant once she'd freed it? It's not a dog she's trying to release, but a semi-wild four-ton creature - the elephant could have caused no end of trouble and damage with nothing to restrain it once it was out, and it could have caused accidents on the roads or killed someone.
So what did she expect to do with the elephant once she'd freed it? It's not a dog she's trying to release, but a semi-wild four-ton creature - the elephant could have caused no end of trouble and damage with nothing to restrain it once it was out, and it could have caused accidents on the roads or killed someone.
Posted by: winky wonky, Brighton on 11:02am Thu 27 Mar 08
Her intentions were good but very stupid. What if this elephant had gone on the rampage and killed people? Did she not know that elephants dont "sit down" They sleep on thier feet.
Its about time all animal acts were banned from European circuses.
Her intentions were good but very stupid. What if this elephant had gone on the rampage and killed people? Did she not know that elephants dont "sit down" They sleep on thier feet.
Its about time all animal acts were banned from European circuses.
Posted by: Kieron James, Brighton on 11:03am Thu 27 Mar 08
What a stupid woman, for all she knew the elephant could have been ill and needed to stay in the truck to prevent infection etc, Jenny Wilkins was told that the elephant was being incarcerated for four days, now unless she is a vet or an expert on animals the she should have left well alone and contacted the SPA (French RSPCA) im sure the hotel would have been able to give her the contact number for them. It is so called do-gooders like this that cause so many of societies problems, she could have been badly hurt, or even (quite easily) killed but more importantly it could have killed a passer by or a small child if the elephant had of made a run for it. This was NOT a heroic attempt to enhance the welfare of a circus animal, it was a poorly judged show of woman with errational behaviour, and with little care for the people around her. What would have happened if she had of successfully removed the elephant from the truck? where was she going to put it!? Lucky there were no small children. I do not condone animals being kept for use in a circus, especially under poor living conditions, but this woman deserved the scare that she got. Hopefully she has learned a lesson and if this sort of thing occurs in front of her again she will act in a more sensible manner.
What a stupid woman, for all she knew the elephant could have been ill and needed to stay in the truck to prevent infection etc, Jenny Wilkins was told that the elephant was being incarcerated for four days, now unless she is a vet or an expert on animals the she should have left well alone and contacted the SPA (French RSPCA) im sure the hotel would have been able to give her the contact number for them. It is so called do-gooders like this that cause so many of societies problems, she could have been badly hurt, or even (quite easily) killed but more importantly it could have killed a passer by or a small child if the elephant had of made a run for it. This was NOT a heroic attempt to enhance the welfare of a circus animal, it was a poorly judged show of woman with errational behaviour, and with little care for the people around her. What would have happened if she had of successfully removed the elephant from the truck? where was she going to put it!? Lucky there were no small children. I do not condone animals being kept for use in a circus, especially under poor living conditions, but this woman deserved the scare that she got. Hopefully she has learned a lesson and if this sort of thing occurs in front of her again she will act in a more sensible manner.
Posted by: Fred, brighton on 11:15am Thu 27 Mar 08
Silly c*w.
Posted by: Dave, Wivelsfield on 11:33am Thu 27 Mar 08
What a Dumbo. Big daft but probably very well intetioned. However as for the silly c*w that this story is about, doesn't she realise that there is a gig gap between a domestic pet and an elephant.
What a Dumbo. Big daft but probably very well intetioned. However as for the silly c*w that this story is about, doesn't she realise that there is a gig gap between a domestic pet and an elephant.
Posted by: T.Ruth on 12:29pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.
Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.
Posted by: Kieron James, Brighton on 12:39pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]T.Ruth[/bold] wrote:
Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.[/quote] Dear T.Ruth, Putting herself at risk is fine, but if I you had have had your child stamed on by an out of control elephant, would you accept that your child died for a good cause!? Another away with the fairies do-gooder. There are plenty of better ways of showing a protest against the cruelty of circus animals.
T.Ruth wrote:
Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.
Dear T.Ruth, Putting herself at risk is fine, but if I you had have had your child stamed on by an out of control elephant, would you accept that your child died for a good cause!? Another away with the fairies do-gooder. There are plenty of better ways of showing a protest against the cruelty of circus animals.
Posted by: APC, Manchester on 12:48pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Brainless, absolutely brainless and dangerous to boot.
As I understand from other news items the windy weather in France blew down one circus tent over Easter. Perhaps the animals were in the wagons for their own safety.
If some people just turned on their brains before acting they may not do such foolish things.
Brainless, absolutely brainless and dangerous to boot.
As I understand from other news items the windy weather in France blew down one circus tent over Easter. Perhaps the animals were in the wagons for their own safety.
If some people just turned on their brains before acting they may not do such foolish things.
Posted by: harrold, rottindean on 12:56pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]T.Ruth[/bold] wrote:
Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.[/quote] this is just t ruth looking for attention as normal by talking hot air please ignore him/her
T.Ruth wrote:
Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.
this is just t ruth looking for attention as normal by talking hot air please ignore him/her
Posted by: Me, here on 1:09pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Kieron James[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]T.Ruth[/bold] wrote: Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.[/quote] Dear T.Ruth, Putting herself at risk is fine, but if I you had have had your child stamed on by an out of control elephant, would you accept that your child died for a good cause!? Another away with the fairies do-gooder. There are plenty of better ways of showing a protest against the cruelty of circus animals. [/quote] T.Ruth (or T.Roll) would be fine if it happened to their child. After all, god would have done it for a reason and he moves in mysterious ways. (A bit like Bez from the Happy Mondays!)
Kieron James wrote:
T.Ruth wrote: Keeping animals in these unacceptably cruel conditions should in 2008 be a thing of the past and unless their plight is brought to our attention it will continue, so even though the kind lady put herself at great risk it was for a very deserving cause, good on her and people like her.
Dear T.Ruth, Putting herself at risk is fine, but if I you had have had your child stamed on by an out of control elephant, would you accept that your child died for a good cause!? Another away with the fairies do-gooder. There are plenty of better ways of showing a protest against the cruelty of circus animals.
T.Ruth (or T.Roll) would be fine if it happened to their child. After all, god would have done it for a reason and he moves in mysterious ways. (A bit like Bez from the Happy Mondays!)
Posted by: LB, Hove on 1:27pm Thu 27 Mar 08
A kid I knew when at school was gored by an elephant at Brighton Station after doing something similar.
Mind you there's not many people who can say they've survived an elephant attack in Brighton so it wasn't all bad.
A kid I knew when at school was gored by an elephant at Brighton Station after doing something similar.
Mind you there's not many people who can say they've survived an elephant attack in Brighton so it wasn't all bad.
Posted by: elephants for friends, Washington, DC on 1:28pm Thu 27 Mar 08
AFter spending she "spent the day at the market...Mrs Wilkins could see the elephant had not been let out and the door of the truck had not been opened."
How could she "know" the truck had not been opened? Does change only take place when you see it? If someone saw you in a small office (or a bathroom) and came back later and the day and saw you there again, should we assume that you never leave that place and your life would be better if we got you out of there?
What was the elephant supposed to do after getting out?
AFter spending she "spent the day at the market...Mrs Wilkins could see the elephant had not been let out and the door of the truck had not been opened."
How could she "know" the truck had not been opened? Does change only take place when you see it? If someone saw you in a small office (or a bathroom) and came back later and the day and saw you there again, should we assume that you never leave that place and your life would be better if we got you out of there?
What was the elephant supposed to do after getting out?
Posted by: John, Cyberspace on 1:40pm Thu 27 Mar 08
"I stroked its trunk and asked it to let me go"`
In English or French? A language problem, probably.
"I stroked its trunk and asked it to let me go"`
In English or French? A language problem, probably.
Posted by: T.Ruth on 1:45pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I bet you lot enjoy Fox hunting as well, well wake up, its time that the Earths wild animals were taken care of before they all become extinct.
I bet you lot enjoy Fox hunting as well, well wake up, its time that the Earths wild animals were taken care of before they all become extinct.
Posted by: Me, here on 2:05pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]T.Ruth[/bold] wrote:
I bet you lot enjoy Fox hunting as well, well wake up, its time that the Earths wild animals were taken care of before they all become extinct.[/quote] You're right!!
C'mon everyone, open up those lion cages and set them free...yay!
(Bagsy T.Ruth goes first!)
T.Ruth wrote:
I bet you lot enjoy Fox hunting as well, well wake up, its time that the Earths wild animals were taken care of before they all become extinct.
You're right!!
C'mon everyone, open up those lion cages and set them free...yay!
(Bagsy T.Ruth goes first!)
Posted by: Stroller, Hove on 3:07pm Thu 27 Mar 08
What a frightful egomaniac the woman is.
I suppose she calls it "direct action" - ludicrous phrase.
What a frightful egomaniac the woman is.
I suppose she calls it "direct action" - ludicrous phrase.
Posted by: Johny Cash on 6:10pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Clearly coming in to menopause and trying to change the world with an extreem attemt of mothering, silly old bag! Its part of life darling, just accept it Ms Wilkins and you will enjoy life much more.
Clearly coming in to menopause and trying to change the world with an extreem attemt of mothering, silly old bag! Its part of life darling, just accept it Ms Wilkins and you will enjoy life much more.
Posted by: Dave, hove on 4:44am Fri 28 Mar 08
Stupid seems to be a common word on here. Stupid woman..!!
Stupid seems to be a common word on here. Stupid woman..!!
Posted by: Stoggler, London on 4:25pm Fri 28 Mar 08
T Ruth
Good intentions does not mean you have to behave in a stupid irresponsible manner with little thought for others around you. The correct course of action would have been to contact the French version of the RSPCA or a similar organisation - to release the animal is irresponsible in the extreme. How do you or the woman concerned know what the elephant would do once released? The animal may have caused all sorts of trouble, leading to the authorities having to kill it! Now that's an exactly the best outcome, is it.
T Ruth
Good intentions does not mean you have to behave in a stupid irresponsible manner with little thought for others around you. The correct course of action would have been to contact the French version of the RSPCA or a similar organisation - to release the animal is irresponsible in the extreme. How do you or the woman concerned know what the elephant would do once released? The animal may have caused all sorts of trouble, leading to the authorities having to kill it! Now that's an exactly the best outcome, is it.
Posted by: Gordo on 4:48pm Fri 28 Mar 08
You’ve almost got to admire Wilkins haven’t you? It is the Wilkins of this world that see justice done. Animals need the love of people like this hot head .
It would seem though that the Elephant didn’t much care for her; demonstrable by the fact it ignored her requests to put her down – and then promptly struck her with its long nose; quite hard.
You’ve almost got to feel sorry for Wilkins. Almost.
Bonkers.
You’ve almost got to admire Wilkins haven’t you? It is the Wilkins of this world that see justice done. Animals need the love of people like this hot head .
It would seem though that the Elephant didn’t much care for her; demonstrable by the fact it ignored her requests to put her down – and then promptly struck her with its long nose; quite hard.
You’ve almost got to feel sorry for Wilkins. Almost.
Bonkers.
Posted by: David Whelan, brighton on 8:55pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Jenny
It was well meaning although a bit foolhardy but hey what if we were all machines and did not give a damm or care about the animals.
Jenny deserves credit at least for highlighting this poor Elephants plight.
Next time I am in France I will watch out for the Elephants!
David
Jenny
It was well meaning although a bit foolhardy but hey what if we were all machines and did not give a damm or care about the animals.
Jenny deserves credit at least for highlighting this poor Elephants plight.
Next time I am in France I will watch out for the Elephants!
David
Posted by: Robert, Bristol on 6:22pm Mon 31 Mar 08
What a stupid women! These vegan scumbags should be hung drawn and quartered. they are no better than al quidia!
What a stupid women! These vegan scumbags should be hung drawn and quartered. they are no better than al quidia!
Posted by: lee, preston on 7:09pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Well said,these animal terriost groups have been up to there tricks for far 2 long.Had the animal became loose it would of run amok,and been shot for safety reason.
Its about time the goverment did something about these animal rights looneys.Here we have the CAPS organisation who are a group of idiots with nothing better to do.
I fail to beleive her story about these animals being locked up -circuses have to pass very strict inspections and guidelines on animal care at every venue.
The truth is shes a animal rights looney,whos tried to free a Elephant and made up some clever story when it all went wrong.
I guess not all animals want to run away from the circus like these people would have us think!
Well said,these animal terriost groups have been up to there tricks for far 2 long.Had the animal became loose it would of run amok,and been shot for safety reason.
Its about time the goverment did something about these animal rights looneys.Here we have the CAPS organisation who are a group of idiots with nothing better to do.
I fail to beleive her story about these animals being locked up -circuses have to pass very strict inspections and guidelines on animal care at every venue.
The truth is shes a animal rights looney,whos tried to free a Elephant and made up some clever story when it all went wrong.
I guess not all animals want to run away from the circus like these people would have us think!
Posted by: Samantha, Florida on 11:53pm Mon 31 Mar 08
What a stupid moron that woman is/was. 1st of all i highly doubt the animal was kept in the truck ALL day long..im sure she didnt sit outside her hotel window 24/7 looking at the elephants to see if it was still in the truck. Also, if she would have suceeded in freeing the elephant it most likely would have went on a rampage and would have gotten shot or killed by police. The elephant should have knocked her out; might have knocked some sense into her
What a stupid moron that woman is/was. 1st of all i highly doubt the animal was kept in the truck ALL day long..im sure she didnt sit outside her hotel window 24/7 looking at the elephants to see if it was still in the truck. Also, if she would have suceeded in freeing the elephant it most likely would have went on a rampage and would have gotten shot or killed by police. The elephant should have knocked her out; might have knocked some sense into her
Posted by: Tom, Everwhere on 11:28am Thu 10 Apr 08
THis is clearly a lie, there is no circus in Ireland that has both elphants and tigers, the last circus to be in Drogheda was Tom Duffys circus and that was well before the easter weekend.
also how could the elephant be kept in the trailer if it was performing. this just shows how simple minded people will lie to stop a tradition that has been going for hunderds of year, If they lie about this we can only imagine what else they lie about.
DEFRA have confirmed that there is no scientific evidence to say that animals in circus are any worse off than that of animals in zoo or other sorts of captivity. For DEFRA's actual report click this link http//:www.defra.gov
.uk/animalh/welfare/
pdf/circus-report.pd
f
THis is clearly a lie, there is no circus in Ireland that has both elphants and tigers, the last circus to be in Drogheda was Tom Duffys circus and that was well before the easter weekend.
also how could the elephant be kept in the trailer if it was performing. this just shows how simple minded people will lie to stop a tradition that has been going for hunderds of year, If they lie about this we can only imagine what else they lie about.
DEFRA have confirmed that there is no scientific evidence to say that animals in circus are any worse off than that of animals in zoo or other sorts of captivity. For DEFRA's actual report click this link http//:www.defra.gov
.uk/animalh/welfare/
pdf/circus-report.pd
f
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