Elephant Named 'Patience' Kills Zoo Keeper After 23 Years

(AP) Zookeeper in Mo. killed when charged by elephant
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.
A longtime zookeeper in southwest Missouri was killed Friday when he was charged by an elephant, a spokeswoman for the city of Springfield said.

John Bradford, 62, died when he was attacked by an elephant inside the area at the Dickinson Park Zoo where the elephants are housed, city spokeswoman Cora Scott said.

The elephant, a 41-year-old female named Patience, had been at the zoo since 1990, according to officials for the Springfield zoo.

Bradford worked at the zoo for 30 years and had been the zoo’s elephant manager for 25 years.

Several employees were with Bradford at the time because Patience had a history of being aggressive, she said.

The zoo has two female and two male elephants. Another female, named Connie, died earlier this month.

Longtime friend and former co-worker Paul Price told the Springfield News-Leader that elephants were Bradford’s passion.

Zoo officials said they did not yet know what would happen to Patience. The zoo opened as usual on Friday and the accident remained under investigation.