Last Podcast On The Left Episode 654: Topsy the Elephant
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Feb 27, 2026 A deep dive into the brutal history of circus elephants, focusing on the tragic life and public killing of Topsy. They trace historical practices of elephant executions and how animals were trained to inflict suffering. The story expands to wartime uses, notorious rogue attacks, and the long fight against circus cruelty and modern reforms.
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Why Asian Elephants Kill More People
- Asian elephants cause more human deaths than African elephants largely because they are more frequently domesticated and interact with dense human populations.
- Marcus Parks cites ~750 annual deaths from Asian elephants versus ~500 in Africa and links domestication plus population density in India as key drivers.
Topsy's Early Life And Circus Rebranding
- Topsy was stolen as a calf, sold to Carl Hagenbeck, then marketed by Adam Forepaugh as the 'first elephant born in America' before being exposed as a lie.
- Marcus traces Topsy from Southeast Asia to Hamburg, then to circus owner Four Paw, who renamed and exploited her for publicity.
The Brooklyn Incident That Made Topsy Notorious
- In 1902 a drunken spectator, James Fielding Blount, allegedly taunted Topsy, made her take his lit cigarette, and Topsy killed him; the incident was used as sensational advertising.
- Marcus describes how Brooklyn press turned the episode into sold-out circus runs and Topsy earned a 'murderous' reputation.