Monday, Aug. 11, 1997 | 10:36 a.m.
An elephant that died from heat exhaustion last week in a trailer in Albuquerque, N.M., may have recently performed at a Las Vegas circus, an animal activist says.
The elephant, named Heather, was found by police officers Thursday in a trailer in a hotel parking lot. Heather's body and 10 living circus animals were removed from the poorly ventilated container and turned over to the custody of the Rio Grande Zoo.
Heather was estimated to be around 6 years old and weighed 2,400 pounds, according to zoo officials. Ideal weight for a healthy elephant her age would have been closer to 4,000 pounds.
She and the other animals were on their way from Nevada, where they performed with Jordan International for the Shrine Circus, to their home in Texas, according to Las Vegas animal rights activist Linda Faso.
Faso said she has been closely watching the well-being of the animals used by Jordan and King Royal Circus, Heather's actual owner. According to her, this is not the first time animals have been abused or killed while in their care.
"These animals did not apply for a job at the circus," Faso said. "They slip through the cracks of inspection, and many times their problems go unnoticed."
Heather allegedly performed at the Shrine Circus held at Cashman Field, giving rides to children, just two weeks before her death. Jordan International, based in Las Vegas, was contracted by the Shriners to provide the animals. According to Faso, Jordan was loaned the elephants by King Royal.
In affidavits obtained by the SUN, Jordan International and King Royal have a history of complaints and violations regarding elephant abuse.
On Oct. 20, 1993, an 8-year-old elephant named Joy went into cardiac arrest and died while in King Royal's care.
In 1994, a baby elephant named Mickey was featured on the "Crusaders" and "20/20" when he was beaten in front of a live audience. Mickey refused to do a trick and attempted to leave the arena. The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors who investigated Mickey's case found much more than a random act.
They charged John Davenport, King Royal's owner, with failing to prevent physical harm and behavioral stress, physical abuse, failing to disclose records and identification on the animals, failure to have dangerous animals under supervision by knowledgeable and experienced animal handlers, failure to maintain transport cages in good repair, and failure to maintain structurally sound housing facilities to protect the animals from injury.
King Royal agreed to pay nearly $8,000 in fines to avoid a 30-day licence suspension. It also agreed to fix the problems cited by the USDA.
So why are animals such as Heather still turning up dead or severely injured? Faso said it is because many inspections aren't followed up. The only reason that King Royal agreed to pay the damages after Mickey's death was because of the national media coverage, she said.
"USDA inspectors like Nevada's Greg Wallen do a good job," Faso said. "But a circus is nothing more than a band of gypsies moving from state to state. Each state has different inspectors and a lot of the time many violations get filed away and forgotten."
Other affidavits obtained cite an incident in Missouri in which a tiger under Jordan International's care escaped and bit a 13-year-old boy in the audience.
"I have no idea what you are trying to dig up on me but you won't get it out of me," Patsy Jordan, the current owner of Jordan International, told a reporter Friday.
Jordan said the elephant was not part of her circus and knows nothing about Heather. When asked if the elephant was used at the Shrine Circus in Las Vegas, she would not comment and hung up.
Wallen was unavailable for comment Friday or early today.
Robert Gibbens, the USDA's Western region director, said Jordan International is licensed, but he could not give out details over the phone of any violations the company may have.
But Richard Farinato, head of the Humane Society of the United States, said King Royal has had a long list of violations.
Farinato faxed the SUN official USDA reports citing violations ranging from unfit cages and improper feeding techniques to animal abuse. He said Jordan International is registered with the USDA under the name of Jordan Productions.
Faso said Heather's death is yet another reminder that these animals are disposable to these companies and that the public ought to know.
"How could a good organization like the Shriners turn their back and contract these companies again and again under the guise of entertaining children?" Faso asked. "By doing this they are condoning animal abuse."
A secretary at the local Shrine Temple could not locate an official who could speak on the matter Friday or early today.
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