Elephant gains stardom after criminal charges

The first-ever elephant to be accused of assaulting a person has become the top star of the Seoul Children`s Grand Park zoo after being cleared of its charges, according to zoo officials.

A 48-year-old woman surnamed Kim claimed last month that one of the zoo`s elephants, named Tae-san, knocked her out by throwing a large stone that hit her, but the police concluded the case, having found no evidence or witnesses.

The zoo was also released from supervising responsibilities.



Despite concerns that the elephant`s criminal charges may repel visitors, the cage of the 35-year-old animal since then has become the zoo`s most popular spot, said officials.

The news even contributed to attracting new visitors to the zoo, as people wanted to see the famous elephant, said a zoo official.

"Visitors would recognize Tae-san from television and approach the cage to have a closer look or take photographs, none of them seeming to be afraid of him," said the zoo-keeper in charge of the elephant. "We, at the zoo, are all so proud of him for holding his own after the distresses caused by the investigation."

The zoo, throughout and after the related police investigation, refused to keep the elephant locked up, upon firm beliefs that the well-trained animal would never have assaulted a person.

The elephant is physically healthy and is not troubled by the changes or the increase of visitors, said zoo officials.

The police investigation on the Tae-san`s assault charges was closed last month upon the agreement between the accuser and the zoo and did not completely prove the elephant to be innocent.

"We rather hoped that the police investigation would prove that Tae-san is innocent, but are nevertheless pleased that this awkward case is over," said a zoo official.

(tellme@heraldm.com)







By Bae Hyun-jung