Two elephants caused quite a scene when they escaped from a circus in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and wandered through the snowy streets before their handlers managed to bring them back under control.
The elephants, Karla and Ranni, were part of the Italian Togni circus family, one of the largest circus dynasties in the world. While Ranni stayed close to the circus truck, Karla strayed off and decided to explore the city.
If you prefer not to read the full story,
Skip ahead to watch the video ->
Footage captured the surreal moment when Karla was seen walking down a street, guided by a handler holding onto her trunk, while another person stood nearby to keep watch.
Karla’s stroll led her to a residential area, where she enjoyed rolling and playing in the snow, much to the handlers’ frustration.
Initially numbering, only a few handlers tried to restrain Karla with ropes. Still, the elephant resisted, backing away and stepping over the fallen rope onto the snow-covered pavement.
As the situation grew more challenging, more people joined the effort, and the team of handlers increased from three to seven.
Eventually, their persistence paid off, and Karla began to follow their lead. However, when it seemed they had regained control, she veered off course again, forcing the handlers to regroup.
The incident took place on January 23. It began when the circus troupe attempted to load Karla and Ranni into a truck for their next destination, but both elephants resisted and walked away.
At one point, the handlers managed to tie a rope around one of Karla’s front legs, but it took a dozen people’s strength to pull her back finally.
Circus art director Sergey Bondarchuk explained to Russia Times that the elephants have distinct personalities and are very intelligent.
He said, “They were excited by the snow, the trees, and the pedestrians, who they seemed to mistake for an audience.”
Bondarchuk emphasized the bond between the circus team and their animals, stating, “We love our animals dearly; they are part of our family.
They love performing and get bored without their work. Our animals will live and die with us; they wouldn’t survive in the wild.”
Read more Elephant News.
