For the record, I'm so against animal circuses, but that being said, I'm once again in awe of the generosity of spirit of the folks in Newfoundland.
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Rescued circus elephant and camels make a splash in Newfoundland community
By The Canadian Press
DANIEL'S HARBOUR, N.L. - The owner of three circus animals that were stranded along Newfoundland's rugged Northern Peninsula when the truck carrying them overturned says he wants to thank the community that rescued and sheltered them.
Mike Hackenberger has donated $4,000 towards the cost of a new playground for Daniel's Harbour, N.L., on behalf of Limba, an elephant that was in the back of the circus truck when it crashed near the village on Sunday.
"They were generous, they were kind - there was nothing beyond their ability that they could do to help us," Hackenberger said about the community's 280 residents on the province's west coast.
"Without them, we would have been lost."
The driver of the truck wasn't seriously injured, but volunteer firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to pry open the truck and free the frightened animals.
The crash threw Limba on her side, putting pressure on her lungs. Local emergency responders gave the animal oxygen by attaching a hose to the ambulance's supply and running it up the elephant's trunk.
"It perked her up and her colour came back," Hackenberger said.
Limba soon found her legs again and the two camels, named Eddie and Skoodles, escaped with just a few scrapes and bruises.
The animals were stranded in the village until another tractor-trailer could arrive from Ontario. An abandoned service station was cleaned up for use as temporary stables.
A local farmer donated a blast heater to keep the animals warm.
Hackenberger said the donation was the least he could do for the coastal village, which has seen its share of hard times.
Last year, a series of landslides destroyed several homes and forced the closure of the main highway along the coast.
At one point, a TV news crew captured the stunning image of a large home pitching on its side and toppling toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence - a heartbreaking scene that was replayed countless times on televisions across the country.
The ground at the edge of town remains unstable, and there concerns Wednesday that wet clay spotted oozing from the side of another cliff could spell trouble for up to 10 more homes.
"Daniel's Harbour has had its fair share of bad luck," Hackenberger said.
On Sunday, the truck carrying Limba and the two camels tipped on the winding, temporary bypass road that was built after the slides last year.
But the accident proved to be a godsend for the community, said Mayor Steve Carey.
Business picked up in Daniel's Harbour during the animals stay as thousands of people descended on the village to catch a glimpse of the exotic animals.
A long-term care facility 70 kilometres away bused in several senior citizens so they could see an elephant for the first time in their lives.
Carey also found out Wednesday morning - before news broke about the latest slides - that construction of a new highway through the town was finally moving ahead and is slated to start in August.
As for the playground, Carey said the community had been looking for funding, but expected it could take up to a year to find the money.
Thanks to Hackenberger, the playground will be finished this summer. Hackenberger said the playground might be called Limba's Park.
The animals rejoined their travelling circus Tuesday, but Hackenberger said he feels like the circus has forged a bond with Daniel's Harbour. He said he hopes to someday bring the circus back to the tiny community.
"I made a promise to those folks."
V
Rescued circus elephant and camels make a splash in Newfoundland community
By The Canadian Press
DANIEL'S HARBOUR, N.L. - The owner of three circus animals that were stranded along Newfoundland's rugged Northern Peninsula when the truck carrying them overturned says he wants to thank the community that rescued and sheltered them.
Mike Hackenberger has donated $4,000 towards the cost of a new playground for Daniel's Harbour, N.L., on behalf of Limba, an elephant that was in the back of the circus truck when it crashed near the village on Sunday.
"They were generous, they were kind - there was nothing beyond their ability that they could do to help us," Hackenberger said about the community's 280 residents on the province's west coast.
"Without them, we would have been lost."
The driver of the truck wasn't seriously injured, but volunteer firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to pry open the truck and free the frightened animals.
The crash threw Limba on her side, putting pressure on her lungs. Local emergency responders gave the animal oxygen by attaching a hose to the ambulance's supply and running it up the elephant's trunk.
"It perked her up and her colour came back," Hackenberger said.
Limba soon found her legs again and the two camels, named Eddie and Skoodles, escaped with just a few scrapes and bruises.
The animals were stranded in the village until another tractor-trailer could arrive from Ontario. An abandoned service station was cleaned up for use as temporary stables.
A local farmer donated a blast heater to keep the animals warm.
Hackenberger said the donation was the least he could do for the coastal village, which has seen its share of hard times.
Last year, a series of landslides destroyed several homes and forced the closure of the main highway along the coast.
At one point, a TV news crew captured the stunning image of a large home pitching on its side and toppling toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence - a heartbreaking scene that was replayed countless times on televisions across the country.
The ground at the edge of town remains unstable, and there concerns Wednesday that wet clay spotted oozing from the side of another cliff could spell trouble for up to 10 more homes.
"Daniel's Harbour has had its fair share of bad luck," Hackenberger said.
On Sunday, the truck carrying Limba and the two camels tipped on the winding, temporary bypass road that was built after the slides last year.
But the accident proved to be a godsend for the community, said Mayor Steve Carey.
Business picked up in Daniel's Harbour during the animals stay as thousands of people descended on the village to catch a glimpse of the exotic animals.
A long-term care facility 70 kilometres away bused in several senior citizens so they could see an elephant for the first time in their lives.
Carey also found out Wednesday morning - before news broke about the latest slides - that construction of a new highway through the town was finally moving ahead and is slated to start in August.
As for the playground, Carey said the community had been looking for funding, but expected it could take up to a year to find the money.
Thanks to Hackenberger, the playground will be finished this summer. Hackenberger said the playground might be called Limba's Park.
The animals rejoined their travelling circus Tuesday, but Hackenberger said he feels like the circus has forged a bond with Daniel's Harbour. He said he hopes to someday bring the circus back to the tiny community.
"I made a promise to those folks."
