Humane Society urges ban on wild animal traveling shows after Butte elephant escape

BUTTE, Mont. — The Humane Society of the U.S. is calling for the ban of wild animals in traveling shows following the escape of an Asian elephant named Viola Tuesday in Butte.

Viola’s brief viral escape from the Jordan World Circus is not the first time the elephant has gotten loose, according to the Humane Society.

The Humane Society says Viola belongs to the Carson & Barnes Circus, based in Oklahoma. An official with the Jordan World Circus denies that claim.

“The Humane Society feels that elephants and other wild animals to be frank should not be used in traveling acts because they have no way to express their natural behaviors,” Laura Hagen, the organization's director of captive wildlife, said. “They are kept chained, they are kept caged, they are denied everything that is normal and basic to them. They have zero autonomy.”

It’s unclear what condition Viola was kept in prior to Tuesday's escape. Citing media and federal reports, Hagen said the elephant escaped two previous times.

NBC Montana reached out to both circuses for comment but did not hear back by airtime.