Reward offered in shooting of elephant

TUPELO, Miss., April 10 (UPI) -- A reward of more than $21,000 is being offered by Mississippi authorities for information about who may have shot a circus elephant in the shoulder.

Carol, a 39-year-old Asian elephant owned by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was shot in the shoulder during an early morning drive-by shooting, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo reported Wednesday.

The elephant and other animals were being housed on the grounds of the BancorpSouth arena in Tupelo where the circus was to perform Thursday.

The circus veterinarian, Dr. Dennis Schmitt, said the elephant was in stable condition, active, and being treated with medication. She was to be taken to Springfield, Mo., for observation and was expected to make a full recovery.

Two other elephants will still perform.