Ohio zoo takes possession of elephant confiscated from former Indiana circus owner

Ohio zoo takes charge of confiscated Ind. elephant

TOLEDO, Ohio — An Ohio zoo has taken possession of an elephant that was confiscated by federal agents from a former circus owner in Indiana.

Toledo Zoo director Anne Baker says the female elephant is named Twiggy and is very thin and has pitted feet, indicating it didn’t receive proper care. The elephant is in quarantine and not ready to be exhibited.

U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Nolan Lemon says agents were concerned about the elephant’s health and issued warnings about violations of the Animal Welfare Act. He says previous owner Julius von Uhl was given ample time to improve living conditions for the elephant.

Von Uhl says he wasn’t given proper notice of any violations. He says the government robbed him of money he would have been paid for selling the elephant to another zoo.