> PADERBORN, GERMANY - Overzealous zookeeper Friedrich Riesfeldt fed his
> constipated elephant Stefan 22 doses of animal laxative and more than
> a bushel of berries, figs and prunes before the plugged-up pachyderm
> finally let fly-and suffocated the keeper under 200 pounds of poop!
>
> Investigators say ill-fated Friedrich, 46, was attempting to give the
> ailing elephant an olive-oil enema when the relieved beast unloaded on
> him like a dump truck full of mud.
>
> "The sheer force of the elephant's unexpected defecation knocked Mr.
> Riesfeldt to the ground, where he struck his head on a rock and lay
> unconscious as the elephant continued to evacuate his bowels on top of
> him," said flabbergasted Paderborn police detective Erik Dern.
>
> "With no one there to help him, he lay under all that dung for at
> least an hour before a watchman came along, and during that time he
> suffocated.
>
> "It seems to be just one of those freak accidents that happen
> sometimes -- a billion-to-one shot, at least."
>
> The heartbreaking tale of constipation and tragedy began April 23 when
> the conscientious zookeeper noticed that his prize, 8,000-pound
> African elephant didn't seem to be producing his usual poop aplenty.
>
> "Friedrich had actually been concerned for several days because he
> knew that severe constipation can kill an elephant," assistant
> zookeeper Kurt Herrman recalled.
>
> "He told me he was going to stay late that Thursday night to treat
> Stefan with laxatives and possibly give him an enema. "I offered to
> help, but he sent me on home, saying he had everything under control."
>
> But two hours later, horrified night watchman Walter Pleuger found
> Friedrich lying lifeless under a mound of muck, his body visible only
> from the knees down.
>
> "I had never really thought about it before," Det. Dern said. "But
> obviously, giving an elephant an enema can be a very dangerous
> activity-and not something that should be attempted alone."
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