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28 March 2024

Elephant kills long-time zoo keeper

Published
By Agencies

City spokeswoman Cora Scott says 62-year-old John Bradford died Friday after an elephant at the Dickerson Park Zoo made a sudden movement and hit him. No other zoo employees were injured.


Zoo manager John Phillip Bradford, 62, is seen in an undated handout photo courtesy of the city of Springfield, Missouri received by Reuters October 11, 2013. An adult elephant named Patience, who has been at the Missouri zoo since 1990, accidentally killed the long-time zoo manager on Friday, city officials said. Bradford had worked at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri, for 30 years and was working in the elephant barn on Friday morning when the elephant swung its head and struck him, Springfield city spokeswoman Cora Scott said. (REUTERS)


Scott initially said the elephant charged Bradford, based on early reports from the scene. But she later changed that account based on new information.

Bradford worked at the zoo for 30 years and had been the zoo's elephant manager for 25 years.


Patience the Elephant is seen in an undated handout photo courtesy of the city of Springfield, Missouri received by Reuters October 11, 2013. The elephant, who has been at the Missouri zoo since 1990, accidentally killed a long-time zoo manager on Friday, city officials said. John Phillip Bradford, 62, had worked at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri, for 30 years and was working in the elephant barn on Friday morning when the elephant swung its head and struck him, Springfield city spokeswoman Cora Scott said. (REUTERS)


The elephant, a 41-year-old female named Patience, had been at the zoo since 1990. Zoo officials said Patience won't be euthanised. The zoo opened as usual on Friday, although the elephants weren't on exhibit.