Another close call came when he first got Kamba the elephant. Kamba came from Africa, one of the elephants chosen for culling. Culling operations are a method of population control, when too many elephants result in over grazing. In the past, the baby elephants could be sold to circuses and zoos. Those not sold were killed. The ivory would be legally harvested, the skin would be sold for clothing and the meat would be given to the people. All proceeds went straight back to the conservation effort, said Terranova.

When Kamba came to Texas, Terranova had to keep her chained with cotton ropes. Every day, he changed the ropes, washed them and alternated feet.

One day the cotton rope didn’t hold.

"Every time I got near her she tried to get me. She wasn’t sure what I was going to do with her and she was scared," Terranova said. "One of the ropes rotted and she spun and gored me."

He stood and pulled down the collar of his T-shirt, pointing to a small round scar on his breast bone.

Many times other people cause near accidents.

"Anytime an animal hurts you, it’s due to human error," Terranova said. "Today, two girls jumped the rope and ran to one of my new ponies. The pony reared up and got her feet tangled. I constantly have to keep people away from the elephant. People aren’t aware that these are still wild animals."

Terranova paused and looked over towards Kamba. A couple with a small child were wandering a little close to the elephant.

"Excuse me, you need to back away please!" Terranova barked. Move away from the elephant."

He looked back. "See what I mean. I can’t leave the elephant alone or someone will get too close and get hurt. Then I lose my animals."

Terranova said the biggest problem he has is with animal rights activist.

"I’ve gotten death threats, got shot at," he said. "Someone came in and broke (miniature horse’s) leg with a bat. They shot another one of my horses."

Terranova said the activists also burned down a barn in Dallas , killing two elephants and a tiger.

"Their justification is that the animals are better off dead than exploited," he said, face showing disgust. Terranova pointed at the miniature horse whose leg had been broken. "Ask him if he’s better off dead."

Terranova is part of a group that made a video tape showing just how the animals are cared for and housed. They use the tape in court cases concerning animal exploitation and he said they usually win.

"I enjoy my animals. I don’t exploit them," he said. "I know what it costs to care for these animals and they are helping me to support them. I don’t consider my animals employees, they are co-workers. They have to work and all they have to do is sit there and eat feed.

The petting zoo Terranova brought to Kingston sits under a large circus tent. He said he didn’t have to put the tent up, but he does so there is shade. The U.S. Department of Agriculture make at least two home inspections every year to make sure the animals are treated humanely. Terranova has never received a bad report.

After the Striper Festival, Terranova has to go to the Astrodome in Houston with Kamba for a commercial advertising the movie "Operation Dumbo Drop." After that, Kamba will star in an Ace Ventura film with Jim Carrey. Cats will be posing for commercials and photos.