Nick Rensink

1: Iringa (attacked)

1. 1993-10-07: elephant keeper Nick Rensink attacked by Iringa. That morning, Rensinck, more than 18 months experience with the Zoo's elephants, attempted to end a disagreement between Thika and Iringa. When he tried to force Iringa back, she threw him across the holding area with her Trunk and gored him repeatedly in the leg while he was pinned on his back. Nick Rensink Survived. Rensinck might have been killed if not Keeper Mark Bongelli, was able to step into the pen, back the elephant away from Nick and have Nick crawl partially out of the accident area. Mark then pulled Nick through the adjacent pen, past two other elephants to a central area, and called for assistance.

That morning, Rensinck attempted to end a disagreement between Thika and Iringa. When he tried to force Iringa back, she threw him across the holding area with her Trunk and gored him repeatedly in the leg while he was pinned on his back. Rensinck might have been killed if two fellow zookeepers hadn’t rushed to his rescue.

1993-10-07: On the morning of Sunday 7 October, 26-year-old Nick Rensink, an elephant keeper at Metro Toronto Zoo, was seriously injured when he was gored in the leg by one of the Zoo's elephants . The response by his fellow zoo keepers, security and other staff is credited with saving his life. His partner in the elephant house, Keeper Mark Bongelli, was able to step into the pen, back the elephant away from Nick and have Nick crawl partially out of the accident area. Mark then pulled Nick through the adjacent pen, past two other elephants to a central area, and called for assistance on the Zoo's communication system.

The two keepers involved were both experienced with elephants. Mark had worked with the animals for more than five years, although he is presently assigned to the Demonstration Unit, which works with numerous Species in public education demonstrations. Nick has more than 18 months experience with the Zoo's elephants.