Elephant Attraction In Grundy County Draws Criticism

(CBS) -- Nosey the elephant is the star attraction at the Grundy County Fairgrounds.

But not everyone thinks she should be. Critics say the elephant is treated inhumanely and want her to be freed.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.

Roseanna Romano couldn't walk two steps without some confrontation at the fairgrounds. She is concerned about fair attraction, Nosey, a 34-year-old African elephant. Romano snapped these photos of Nosey's chains.

"This poor baby, she can't even do a complete walk," the Minooka resident says.

It didn't take long for fairground owner Burdette Carter to chime in.

"Those people love their animals," he says.

Nosey's owner agrees, saying the animal is well-cared for.

Franciszka Liebel acknowledges a long history of complaints about Nosey's welfare, including a USDA matter, settled for a fine, over what she says was a bookkeeping issue.

"That is not any concern about the welfare of the elephant. That was just an administrative error," she says.

Liebel says her family and its livelihood are the victims here.

"We have to deal with people threatening us, calling us names," she says.

Romano sees it differently.

"She needs to be retired," she says.