ASSOCIATED PRESS
Elephants roam the grounds at Hawthorn Corp., a circus training facility near Richmond, Ill. Federal authorities allege that owner John Cuneo has violated the Animal Welfare Act. Cuneo denies that his animals are mistreated.
Tyke’s owner accused
of animal abuseThe exhibitor whose elephant
ran amok in Honolulu denies blame
CHICAGO >> The owner of a circus elephant that went wild in the streets of Honolulu in 1994 now faces charges of violating the Animal Welfare Act.
The 47 allegations made against John Cuneo's Illinois business by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last month ranged from failing to cut elephants' toenails to improperly treating a sick elephant at the McHenry County training facility.
Cuneo, who started his company in 1957, denied his animals were mistreated. His business provides performing elephants and tigers to circuses and other venues worldwide. By his count he has 19 elephants, a lion and 84 tigers.
The USDA allegations cover some animals at the farm and others that were on the road performing. The agency said inspectors found problems with Cuneo's operations on at least 10 occasions between March 2001 and last June.
The case now goes to a USDA administrative law judge. If Cuneo loses the case, his license to exhibit animals could be revoked or suspended.
In 1998 his license was suspended for 45 days after two elephants got tuberculosis.
On Aug. 20, 1994, Tyke, one of Cuneo's elephants, went wild, trampling an animal trainer before crashing through a door at the Blaisdell Center.
The 9,500-pound elephant then made its way through the streets of Kakaako before being shot to death by police.
Cuneo paid a $12,000 fine for the incident.
