Circus elephant killed and serveral injured after lorry overturns on Spanish motorway

"We treat animals like slaves. Enough of circuses that use animals."

A herd of elephant got hurt and one died on a Spanish motorway when a circus lorry overturned on 2 April in A30 Pozo Canada near Albacete south-east of Madrid.

The animals were filmed strolling towards ground and feeding by the side of the road and the dead one was removed from a ditch after the car crash. 

Police posted photos of the elephants on social media platform, "The A30 has been closed because a lorry has overturned. Elephants are loose on the tarmac.

"The motorway has been closed around the Pozo Canada area heading towards Murcia."

Solarpix.com

Solarpix.com

Spain's Road Safety Authority the DGT confirmed one elephant had been dead in the accident while four others and the driver were luckily survived. 

But two of elephant have suffered injuries but it's unclear how serious they were.

Solarpix.com

Solarpix.com

Silvia Barquero, the president of Spanish animal welfare political party PACMA, said the animals belonged to the Gottani Circus, which has performed several shows in the area over Easter.

"The lorry that has overturned was carrying Circo Gottani elephants. Show them more kindness," she tweeted. "We treat animals like slaves. Enough of circuses that use animals."

Civil Guard officers are now doing an investigation to find the cause of the incident. No responses were from the circus owners so far.  

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.

The Colombian singer is under investigation for the alleged evasion of 6.7 million euros ($7.2 million) in taxes on her 2018 income via an offshore company. She has denied wrongdoing.

State prosecutors, who had initially brought the allegations forward, are now saying “there is not sufficient evidence” of a possible fiscal crime.

It will be up to the investigating judge to decide whether to continue with the probe, and possibly recommend that the case be tried, or dismissed.

In a separate case, Shakira struck a deal in November with prosecutors whereby she acknowledged she had failed to pay Spanish government 14.5 million euros (about $15.6 million) in taxes between 2012 and 2014.

Shakira currently resides in Miami after having left Spain following her breakup with the now former soccer player Gerard Pique.

FILE - Colombian performer Shakira leaves court in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Spanish state prosecutors have recommended that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra, File)