Attacker - Elephant

Name: Chawang

Species: Malayan elephant (Elephas maximus hirsutus)

Where it's found: Forests of Peninsular Malaysia

Life expectancy: 65 - 70 years

Date of birth: ~1976

Diet: Hay, pellets, grass, nangka leaves, palm leaves

Star appeal: Donated by the Wildlife Department of Malaysia in Dec 1983. Shot to fame for being a handsome and majestic male elephant with long tusks of about 1.5m meeting at the tips. He was featured in newspapers in July 2001 for an attack on his handler.

Subsequently, he was featured in news reports as the Night Safari tried to relocate him to another zoo overseas as part of a breeding programme, but the plan fell through because of costs and logistics.

Despite that incident, Chawang has endeared himself to staff and the public over the past few years, becoming a poster boy of how proper conditioning and training can assist in managing animals that were deemed to be difficult. Through the use of hand-held target cues, Chawang has responded well to training to present his body parts and his temperament and disposition has improved tremendously.

At the Night Safari he cuts and imposing figure in his exhibit as he surveys the trams passing by, and the response from visitors are usually gasps of awe.