Elephant escapes Wisconsin circus for early-morning snack

By Danielle Haynes
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July 1 (UPI) -- Kelly the elephant escaped her enclosure at a circus in Wisconsin and wandered to a nearby neighborhood for an early-morning snack, her handlers said.

Residents in Baraboo, Wis., woke up early Friday to find Kelly munching on trees and plants in their backyard.

"She was just having some breakfast, I guess," Jaime Peterson told Baraboo News Republic.

Kelly probably had help from fellow pachyderm Isla -- who likes bright, shiny things -- with releasing the bolts in their enclosure at Circus World in Baraboo, Wis. Isla stayed put inside the enclosure, but Kelly went on a walkabout Friday morning, circus director Scott O'Donnell said.

"Kelly went for a very short neighborhood stroll this morning after her partner-in-crime, Miss Isla, opened the door on the elephant barn," he said. "They're very curious and intelligent animals."

"Kelly's probably the more inquisitive one, and definitely the more food-motivated one," O'Donnell told CNN.

The elephant ultimately followed her trainer back home without incident. The circus said it would keep a better eye on Isla to make sure she doesn't open the enclosure again.

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