Mila, an African elephant who was moved to the zoo from the Weber Brothers Circus in 2009 after a campaign by anials rights activists, wrapped its trunk around the zookeeper, who was in her pen.

The woman has not yet been named.

Mila’s handler of 28 years, Tony Radcliffe, said he ‘gutted’ to hear about the death.

Franklin Zoo is famed for it’s collection of over 300 exotic and indigenous animals.

Image via Getty