Five Questions about Topsy

World Elephant Day

August 12 is World Elephant Day, when the world comes together to help all elephants. But I want to remember one in particular. Topsy, the female Asian elephant born in Southeast Asia in 1875, was captured as a baby and trafficked to the United States to perform with Forepaugh Circus. If anyone knows anything about Topsy, it is from the film of her electrocution at Luna Park, Coney Island, New York, in 1903.

Here are five questions explaining why I’m writing the biography of Topsy.

1. Why Topsy?

I first saw the film of Topsy’s electrocution, ‘Electrocuting an Elephant’, in the 1980s. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to electrocute an elephant and film her death. I vowed to do something, but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I knew I wanted to write her biography.

2. Why biography?

Biographies are understood to be the life stories of people and not about animals. But I thought, why not write Topsy’s biography? Her life story deserves to be told. I want her to be remembered as more than the elephant in the film, who was electrocuted to death.

3. How is her biography written?

This is a work of narrative nonfiction. I take the techniques of fiction to tell her true story. There are three voices: Topsy’s, and mine, first as an investigative reporter, and second, as an animal rights advocate, with strong opinions about her life.

4. What do I want to accomplish?

I want to answer the question, What would happen to Topsy if she were alive today? I want to determine whether our treatment of elephants, and all animals, is better now than in 1903, when she was killed. I also want to address the myths and correct the lies told about her.

5. Have you published anything about Topsy that is available?

Yes, I published a book, 2025: The Year of Topsy, to recognise her birth 150 years ago in Southeast Asia. My book, and other publications about Topsy, are available at my Topsy website. ( #worldelephantday )