One Year Later: Butte’s Excellent Elephant Adventure

Remember That Time An Elephant Was Walking Around Butte, Montana?

It was one year ago that Montana and America had a little laugh together watching an elephant take a walk on Harrison Avenue in Butte.

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It's not every day we have animals inside of a town the size of Butte. Maybe some deer, but it's very rarely, like count the times on one hand rare, that an elephant is loose on the streets of Butte, America.

NBC Montana reported in 2024:

On April 16, 2024, The Jordan Circus was in Butte, Montana for some shows. Outside the civic center, the elephant, Viola, an Asian elephant, was getting washed and a car backfired and scared her.

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Viola took off running and the spectacle began. Viola, and her 7,000 pounds of pure elephant, made her way around Butte.

NBC Montana interviewed several Butte residents who were working or driving at the time.

• Josh Hannifin who manages the Civic Center Town Pump said he was getting ready to wrap some hot dog buns when he and another co-worker saw it and ran out to get a video
• Mataya Smith who lives in Butte was driving down Harrison when her husband noticed the elephant in the road. Smith jokingly told NBC Montana she thought the elephant was “Kind of making her way over to the casino trying to play some slots. Having a fun time, making the best of her Butte experience.”

This Is The Only Time Montana Has Recorded A Loose Elephant

As far as I can tell from my extensive 2 minute internet search, this is the first and only time and elephant has run loose on the streets of the Treasure State.

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Relive the day an Elephant ran down Harrison Avenue here ⏬⏬⏬

Here's A Baby Elephant: