( CNN ) -- A circus elephant injured last year in a drive-by shooting returned to the ring Thursday in the city where she was shot . `` She 's doing great -- happy to be back in Tupelo , and happy to be back performing , '' said Steve Payne , spokesman for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus . Carol the elephant was shot April 2013 on the grounds of BancorpSouth Arena , in Tupelo , Mississippi , while on tour with `` The Greatest Show on Earth . '' She was struck behind her ear . The 40-year-old Asian elephant took a few weeks off to recover , Payne said . She 's performed since the shooting , but Thursday marked the circus ' first show back in Tupelo . Carol has shown no problems or other issues , the spokesman said . Working with local law enforcement , the circus has stepped up security , he added . `` I have no idea why anyone in the world would want to do something so malicious or stupid , '' Capt . Rusty Haynes , with the Tupelo police , said last year of the unknown assailant . `` It makes no sense to me whatsoever . '' Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is scheduled to be in Tupelo through Sunday . Elephants escape circus in St. Louis , damage cars .
The 40-year - old Asian elephant was born in 2013 . A circus spokesman says she 's doing great : ` ` Happy to be back '' ` ` The Greatest Show on Earth '' will be in Tupelo through September .