Elephant Kills Maine Rescue Centre Founder

The co-founder of a centre for retired circus elephants has been killed by one of the animals he devoted his life to looking after.

Vet Dr James Laurita, 56, was killed on Tuesday when an elephant stepped on him in an enclosure at Hope Elephants, in Hope, Maine.

Knox County Sheriff's office said deputies found him unresponsive on the floor of a barn at the foundation, about 87 miles from Portland.

A medical examiner's report said that he appeared to have fallen before one of the centre's two elephants caused an injury that led to his death.

Mark Belserene, of the state medical examiner's office, said the official cause of death was asphyxiation and "multiple fractures caused by compression to the chest."

"The elephant was not aggressive in any way. It was clearly an accident," he said.

Mr Laurita established Hope Elephants in 2011 having previously worked at a veterinary practice in nearby Camden.

The Hope Elephants centre in Hope, Maine. Pic: Google Street View

According to the Camden Hospital for Animals website, he had worked in a circus for several years after receiving his zoology degree in the early 1980s.

He had then gone on to study elephant behaviour in India and had since become an expert in performing animal ultrasound.

The centre's two retired elephants - Opal and Rosie - arrived in 2012.

Dr Laurita had worked with the pair decades before as an elephant handler with the travelling Carson & Barnes Circus.

A statement on the Hope Elephants website said: "Jim's passion for all animals, but especially elephants, was boundless.

"It was Jim's ability to share that passion with all around him that not only helped to make our organisation a reality, but also enriched and enhanced the lives of all who had a chance to know Jim.

"It was through education that Jim passed on his passion and the importance of wildlife conservation."

It is not known which of the elephants was responsible for Dr Laurita's death.

He leaves behind a wife and two boys.

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