Elephant apparently crushes caretaker to death in Maine

When I saw the beginning of the headline, I half-jokingly thought, "Don't let this be in Maine." I really didn't expect it because there are so many elephants around the world. So I was extra shocked and saddened. I always thought Maine was a strange place to be setting up an elephant sanctuary. Now that I see the details, it makes a little more sense. I wonder if one of the elephants simply tried to rouse him after he hit his head. And of course I wonder what will become of his elephants now...

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/09/us/elephant-caretaker-crushed-to-death/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

(CNN) -- A veterinarian with a passion for elephants died Tuesday, apparently crushed to death in "a tragic accident" by one of the giant mammals he spent his life caring for, authorities said.

Dr. Jim Laurita was the full-time caregiver for two elephants on his property in Hope, Maine. His rehabilitation facility and elephant "educational destination" was dubbed "Hope Elephants."

Knox County Sheriff's deputies were called to the facility Tuesday morning after "Dr. Laurita had fallen in the corral and struck his head on the cement floor" as he tended to the elephants, according to Sheriff Donna Dennison.