In Butte, Montana, an unexpected visitor, Viola, a circus elephant from the travelling “Jordan World Circus,” was captured on surveillance footage wandering the streets after escaping. The incident occurred on Tuesday and was reported by NBC Montana.
Viola was seen exploring near a Town Pump gas station, prompting a blend of astonishment and concern among onlookers for both the public and the elephant’s safety. Fortunately, a quick-acting individual tracking the elephant managed to secure her and return her safely to the circus without incident.
Butte Sheriff Ed Lester explained that Viola’s breakout was triggered by the loud noise of a passing truck, which caused her to panic and flee from her enclosure outside the Civic Center. She roamed the road for a short distance before being safely corralled into a trailer by circus staff, all within about 20 minutes.
Thankfully, the incident resulted in no injuries to either Viola or bystanders. Sheriff Lester commented on the incident, relieved that it concluded without harm, noting, “Glad it ended well and as far as I know, the show went on as scheduled!”
The footage of Viola’s brief adventure quickly spread, garnering thousands of views on social media and YouTube. Additionally, a statement from Nicole Perreira, a spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), highlighted that this was not Viola’s first escape, citing similar incidents in 2010 and 2014. PETA referred to Viola as an “elderly elephant,” raising concerns about her repeated escapes.
