Meet Viola, the circus elephant with the Jordan World Circus. During her pre-show bath in Butte, Montana, a loud vehicle backfire spooked her, causing her to break through a fence and take a stroll, halting traffic on the city's busiest street in broad daylight.
Viola's jaunt through the streets came to a halt when the circus crew arrived with a trailer containing another elephant to retrieve her, according to Civic Center manager Bill Melvin. " They put the ramp down, and she walked right back in"
The incident drew criticism from at least two animal rights organizations — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Compassion Works International. They argued that it put both the elephant and the public at risk.
Wanders In The Streets Of Montana