Elephant kills trainer, zoo says just an accident

Tennessee - An inquiry is underway after an 8,000lb elephant at a Tennessee zoo backed a trainer into a wall and crushed her to death. Knoxville Zoo said today that it had temporarily closed its elephant exhibit, while the rest of the zoo remained open. But a zoo spokesman insisted the death of 33-year-old Stephanie James was nothing more than a terrible and tragic accident and the elephant would not be punished or disciplined in any way.  More…