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Federal Officials Seize Underweight Elephant In Balm

At 7,500 pounds, Ned needs to gain about a ton to reach a healthy weight.

The Elephant Sanctuary

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2008

Updated: 11/10/2008 07:40 pm

BALM - A 21-year-old Asian male elephant is adapting today to a temporary home in Tennessee after federal authorities confiscated him over the weekend from a Balm-based circus.

Ned the elephant arrived Sunday at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture took him from trainer Lance Ramos on Saturday after they determined Ned was drastically underweight.

Carol Buckley, executive director of the sanctuary, said Ned weighed 7,500 pounds and needs to add about a ton to be considered at a healthy weight.

"He is curious and quite attentive," she said. "But it breaks our hearts to see how timid and fearful he is."

She said he is being fed a diet of hay and produce.

"He loves watermelons and prefers oranges and bananas," Buckley said. "He doesn't like apples but likes carrots."

She said he is adjusting to his new surroundings, and the plan is to put weight on Ned "in a slow, methodical manner."

Buckley said her facility is dedicated to female elephants so Ned will have to move once he is healthy and his new home is ready in about a month. She said he will never be returned to Ramos.

"He is one of the lucky ones – he is about to cross over from the entertainment industry to a sanctuary," she said.

Ramos said Ned suffers from a stomach ailment and the animal "can't take in a whole lot of food." U.S. Department of Agriculture officials acted in a "drastic" manner when Ned was taken away from him, Ramos said.

"I felt like a criminal," he said. "I just love the elephant. I enjoyed spending time with it, handling it, taking care of it."

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals today asked federal authorities to pursue criminal charges against Ramos, whose federal license lists him as Lancelot Kollmann.

"PETA has long been concerned about Kollmann's abysmal animal-care record," wrote ReaLeann Smith, the organization's circus and government affairs specialist, in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials.

Smith said PETA also lodged complaints after being told last year that two of Ramos' tigers died while being anesthetized to implant microchips.

Investigators charged Ramos last year with a number of violations, most dealing with the way he handled his animals.

An administrative judge ruled in the agencies' favor and revoked Ramos' exhibitor's license and levied a $13,700 civil penalty.

Ramos appealed the ruling. An administrative appellate judge ruled in the USDA's favor. Ramos then appealed the case to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where it is pending. While on appeal, Ramos kept his license.

Ramos has had other run-ins with federal authorities before about his care of animals.

A female elephant, apparently startled while grazing, attacked and killed Ramos' sister in 2000. Teresa Ramos-Caballero, 52, was knocked to the ground by the elephant's trunk and stepped on. Ramos was charged with violating state wildlife rules.

The same year, Ramos agreed to give up his federal license and sell the family's assortment of lions, tigers and other big cats, along with some camels and zebras, within 60 days or donate them to a sanctuary.

Ramos was sentenced to a year of probation on state charges accusing him of keeping big cats in cages that were too small and improper handling of the elephant.

The state reinstated his license to keep a dozen big cats — including lions and tigers — and a zebra in 2000 after he built a new facility in Balm.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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