Wednesday, March 24, 1999
‘Tyke’ was buried
QUESTION: What ever happened to the body of Tyke, the 21-year-old female circus elephant whose rampage through Kakaako in 1994 was finally stopped by police gunfire? How was the body disposed?
in isle landfillANSWER: When Tyke died, the city parks department moved the body to the animal quarantine station at Halawa, where state personnel did an animal autopsy, said city spokeswoman Carol Costa.
Following that, the parks department disposed of the body at the Waimanalo Gulch landfill, she said.
On Aug. 20, 1994, Tyke crushed to death her trainer, Allen Campbell, 38, during an afternoon performance atBlaisdell Center.
The elephant broke out of the center and took to the streets, making its way to a fenced lot at 1046 Waimanu St.
When circus publicist Steve Hirano tried to lock the elephant in the fenced area, it charged out and attacked him. Police fired at the elephant and slowed it down.
Another officer fired a rifle twice at the elephant on Waimanu Street but didn't stop the enraged animal. The officer then followed Tyke to Ilaniwai Street, firing cautiously so as not to endanger people. He continued to pepper the elephant with shots until the animal died.
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